Note: Presentation starts at about the one hour mark.
Presentation Description:
Maps are important resources for our genealogical research. They can place our ancestors on a particular ground at a particular time and give us clues about how they lived and worked. Maps can help us understand who their neighbors were and how far they had to travel for goods, services, and activities. They can allow us to go and stand on their land or in front of their houses. And maps can help us understand migration and also whether a new record we uncover really belongs to our ancestors. The Library of Congress has over 435,000 maps, of which 56,350 are currently available online. Learn what this treasure trove contains and how to find maps useful for your research.
Presenter’s Bio:
She owns Heritage Detective, LLC, providing professional genealogical services in research, education, and writing. She speaks on a variety of genealogical topics at the national, state, and local levels and loves helping people uncover and share their family stories. She is the coordinator of the Fall Virtual Intermediate Foundations course for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Annette leads Best Practices Study Groups for a number of organizations, providing in-depth education on the genealogical research process in an interactive setting. She is president of the Association of Professional Genealogists and editor of The Florida Genealogist.
Meeting Summarization
Summary of Genealogy Meeting: Using Maps from the Library of Congress
The meeting focused on the utilization of maps from the Library of Congress for genealogical research. Annette Burke-Little, the speaker, provided a comprehensive guide on how to locate and use these maps.
Here are the key points from the meeting:
-
Importance of Maps in Genealogy: Maps can offer valuable insights about ancestors, such as their location at a specific time, their neighbors, and their daily lives. They can also help to verify facts and provide context to an ancestor's life.
-
Library of Congress Map Collection: The Library of Congress houses over 419,000 maps, with 57,140 available online. These maps cover the United States and countries worldwide across many historical periods.
-
Finding Maps: Maps can be located by browsing or searching the Library of Congress website. Browsing can be done through the 'Collections with Maps' section, while searching can be done using the 'Search Maps' page.
-
Types of Maps: The Library of Congress has a variety of maps that can be useful for genealogical research, including military situation maps, panoramic or bird's eye view maps, survey maps, county maps, transportation maps, and fire insurance maps.
-
Using Maps: Maps can be used to locate an ancestor's home or workplace, understand their neighborhood, identify migration routes, and even find the location of specific battles or events.
-
Additional Resources: In addition to maps, the Library of Congress also has other resources that can be useful for genealogical research, such as laws, treaties, and other documents.
-
Future Meetings and Membership: The group discussed future meetings, the benefits of membership, and the upcoming officer elections.
In conclusion, maps from the Library of Congress can be a valuable resource for genealogical research, providing a wealth of information about an ancestor's life and times.
"About Me" page:
Click on the "Learn More" link to find out more about our presenter.
Presentation Handout
