The NARA in Boston (Waltham) Sure Has Changed, What Else is New?

In October 2016 I paid a visit to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Waltham, MA (aka known as Boston). Below are photos of the big changes and new new event.

New room to the left, old room to the right.

The new in this article is described above.

For complete information for this Free Virtual Genealogy Fair

by the National Archives and Records Administration

see schedule here for October 26th and 27th, 2016.

https://www.archives.gov/calendar/genealogy-fair

Research area, with computers, I believe I saw only two microfilm readers on the side and two researchers working together.

No more Saturdays! It used to be the busiest day, and people had a limit of two hours if it was very busy.

This was the research room. It was filled with 5 or more rows of microfilm readers (NARA employee and I guessed 40) plus a few microfilm printers. And, a large number of cabinets with hundreds or more rolls of microfilm. The center of this room had a few tables, a copy machine and cabinets on each side, all containing censuses for 1790, 1800, 1810 and so forth. They had all the New England censuses for all the years, and for some of the states, but I'm not sure if all were there.

This facility had a friendly staff, and I got to know Bill Read and Cindy pretty well, along with Walter. I first started going here in 1995, at least twice a month because it was closer than NEHGS. In addition I found my Revolutionary War patriot's pension file there.

Around 2008 (give or take), I went and was surprised to see a table in the center of the room with about 5 computers, all loaded with Ancestry. I was told I could use that for the year I was interested in. I didn't, just left and never returned because I was an Ancestry subscriber, and realized there was no need to be there, other than to get a nice hard copy. Fast forward to yesterday, when I paid them a visit because I wanted to use their vending machine! I was totally surprised to see the room empty and other changes, including a security door locked in the hallway leading to the lunchroom where the vending machines were. Researchers now have no access to the lunchroom.

I chatted a bit with the one staff person at the main desk, about all the changes. He suggested I take the flyers and said I could scan them and post to my blog, which I will do in a day or two. NOTE: Copies of some of the Reference Quick Guides may be seen HERE.

He asked me to come back and do some research (they subscribe to all the genealogy databases), and I said I would. And, I will, when I'm in the area with some genealogy with me. I rather liked being in my part-time second home again.

 Main hall with information pamphlets. The research room is to the left of the red sign. Old room was straight ahead.

Main entrance to the:

NARA

380 Trapilio Road

Waltham, MA 02452

1-866-406-2379

boston.archives@nara.gov

My Happy Birthday to Webinars -- Follow Friday

A year ago, I did a post called, "Webinar -- New Family History Technology" At that time, I had viewed a few webinars, and the concept was still new to many of us. Now, every week, somebody is presenting one, and I try to listen and watch as many as I can. The speakers are now more familiar with presenting their topics, and newer lecturers are joining in. You can't lose in this win-win situation, especially if they are free.

During the past year, I listened to topics such as: Google for Genealogists, all the RootsMagic topics, Blogging for Beginners, Backing up your genealogy data, Twitter and Tweet Deck, Facebook for Genealogists, Google Docs, Labeling Digital Photos, Dropbox for Genealogists, Family History's Next Generation, and Let your Voice be Heard in the Digital Conversion.

Are you missing out on these valuable topics? Why not check the up-coming ones out, and sign-up. They are for everybody, not just bloggers.

A short write-up on various sponsors:

RootsMagic Inc.  The genealogy software company offers 26 sessions, and I have attended all because I am currently learning this program. All lectures are archived.

Ancestry.com: Has a new "Family Tree Maker: New Features" seminar scheduled for November 9, 2011.  In addition they have archived sessions that go back several years.


Legacy Family Tree: Has a wide variety of lectures, and great speakers. In addition, there are many archived webinars for you to listen to and/or watch. You can also purchase past lectures.

From the Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) and Family Research Library, the Jamboree Extension Series.

A blog site: GeneaWebinars posts upcoming webinars with all information as soon as they are announced. Very nice to have a blog just for genealogy webinars (this site includes all of the above companies). Click on subjects that interest you for the specifics, and note, not all are free.

Looking Back

I like to acknowledge those who enjoy my blog and thought I should have an award. Some bloggers mentioned they knew I don't accept them, but wanted me to have one anyway. I understand why people love giving them, as well as receiving them. However, from the very first day I received one, I decided that wasn't the route I wanted to take. But thank you ladies for the three different awards. Please check out their blogs, you will be so glad you did.

The Ancestor Approved award was given on Jan. 20th, and I didn't discover it until months later. It was embarrassing that I didn't catch it earlier, and it pays to read each and every blog you follow, you just never know what might be in a post. And, I think it is important for recipients to also thank the sender, which I don't see happening very often.

My Ancestor Approved award came from: Suz of The Hunt for Henrietta

One Lovely Blog awards from:
Cyndi Beane Henry of Mountain Genealogy                     
Leslie Albrecht Huber of The Journey Takers Blog
Leslie Ann of Ancestors Live Here
Yvonne Mashburn Schmidt of ATCO, Georgia, The Village


and Betty Huber Tartas of Betty's Boneyard Genealogy presented me with the Genea-Angel award.


The past month has been busy, and I will be blogging about some of the events in the next few weeks. One interesting thing, I hate to admit, is I didn't learn all I could about my parents and grandparents first and then work backward. I instead by-passed them and steam rolled through each generation rather quickly, (which took about 21 years). But, I realized I didn't know the first thing about my parents, especially before I was born. During the past week, I discovered some great information about them, and will share that. If I had asked questions about the last two generations years ago, some relatives were around to answer what I wanted to know.


Much of this winter-like month has been devoted to webinars, I love them and in one week attended five, and one day there were two. I'm getting a great free education, learning about things such as: Using Twitter, Backing up your Genealogy Data, Tracing Female Ancestors, Writing your Personal History, two on Blogging, and several on RootsMagic4. I hope you have been able to take advantage of them, some are still available to listen to/see and new ones have been scheduled. Most are FREE, so please visit the above webinar site.


This has nothing to do with genealogy, but to illustrate how quickly time flies. When I heard it was 30 years ago that President Reagan was shot, to me, it was like yesterday.
I was working at the Veteran's Administration, my office on the first floor of a 14-floor building, and on the L Street side in Washington, DC. When we heard the sirens and saw police cars fly by, we knew something serious had happened. We grouped together, and imagined a disaster at the White House, which was a few blocks away. Soon we knew the real story. Now, it's hard to believe it was 30 years ago. Did I age, what was I doing as a hobby (not genealogy yet), no idea what I was doing, but I remember that freeze in time.

Bits of News -- Webinars, Past and Future

I originally posted this blog on January 2, 2011, since then, the Webinar lectures have been given, and many are archived for you to now listen to and watch for FREE. Now, another organization is also offering various genealogy webinars, so I decided to revise this post and bring you up-to-date.


Webinar:  "Web conferencing is used to conduct live meetings, training, or presentations via the Internet. In a web conference, each participant sits at his or her own computer and is connected to other participants via the internet. This can be either a downloaded application on each of the attendees' computers or a web-based application where the attendees access the meeting by clicking on a link distributed by e-mail (meeting invitation) to enter the conference." From Wikipedia.  Each session can hold about 1,000 attendees.


The links to all sites are below:


RootsMagic Inc.  The genealogy software company offers seven great sessions, and I have attended all because I am currently learning this program. Past lectures are archived.

Ancestry.com: Has two new seminars scheduled.  In addition they have archived sessions that go back to 2007.

Legacy Family Tree: Has quite a few lectures, various topics, being offered. In addition, there are many archived webinars for you to listen to and/or watch.

NEW: From the Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) and Family Research Library, the Jamboree Extension Series.  There are about 12 new lectures as of February 23rd, with more to be announced.  Please visit SCGS to register.


A new blog site: GeneaWebinars will be posting new webinars with all information as soon as they are announced. Very nice to have a blog just for webinars. Thank you DearMYRTLE for setting this up.

Webinar -- New Family History Technology

Where can you find the best of the Internet, free websites, and unique resources? Read below.


On Wednesday evening, I attended another excellent Webinar by Legacy Family Tree, this one was New Family History Technology.  Geoff Rasmussen of  Legacy Family Tree, gave me permission to post the Webinar link (see below) for anybody who would like to view it during the next 30 days. I intend to watch it again. It is really good and perfect for anybody doing research. The best thing is, it is up-to-date with all information!


I recommend you watch and listen to: the Webinar called New Family History Technology by Paul Larsen. You will need to scroll down to "Listen to our archived Webinars" and select New Family History Technology. And as a bonus, you may listen to the others listed.


The description that got me interested in this free one hour lecture follows: "There are so many new family history tools and web sites…it’s easy to feel somewhat overwhelmed. Here’s a colorful tour of much of the new stuff to make it easier, save you hundreds of hours, and have fun connecting to your ancestors. Learn about the best of the Internet, free websites, and unique resources. Join the author of the book Crash Course in Family History, Paul Larsen, and see what you’re missing!"