March 8 - Genealogy Day

March 8 - Genealogy Day

Yay! A day dedicated to one of my favorite hobbies (ok, they're all my favorite).

I could tell you the importance of genealogy but either you already agree with me or I won't be able to change your mind. Plus I don't feel like it.

Instead, I'd like to supply you with my personal list of genealogy links. This is heavy on Polish, Illinois, and Chicago links, because that is where my family is from. But I have many generally useful sites as well.

Don't forget to check for genealogy groups on your favorite social networking site (MySpace, Facebook, et al). The people in those groups are usually very friendly and willing to help point you in the right direction.

GENERAL SITES

Cyndi's List
A far more comprehensive pile of links than you will find in my humble blog.

1 Step Searches
Help in searching some common genealogy databases.

Free Cemetery Records
I haven't found any information on my family here, but others have had better luck.

Genealogy at About.com
I love About.com. I can always find help (or a point in the right direction) here. Not just for genealogy, but just about any topic.

WorldGenWeb Project
Lots of international help here.

USGenWeb Search Engine
1-click search of all the USGenWeb indices.

RootsWeb Surname List
If you can't find your ancestors, you may be able to find someone else who is researching the same last name. I came in contact with a lady who may or may not be related to me, but she was very friendly and helped me find more info on my family.

FamilySearch International Genealogical Index
This is part of the LDS FamilySearch site.

Social Security Death Index
This is the best SS death index I've found.

Obituary Search

COMING TO AMERICA

Ellis Island
If you are trying to determine when an ancestor arrived in America, start here.

Castle Garden
If you can't find your ancestor at the Ellis Island site, try this one.

Immigrant Ships Passenger Lists

(More) Immigrant Ship Passenger Lists

Guide to Immigration Records and Ships' Passenger Lists

POLISH LINKS (mmm...sausage)

Polish Genealogical Society of America
Click on Directory for lots of help, useful databases, and links.

Genealogy of Halychyna/Eastern Galicia

Polish Genealogy at About.com
I love About.com. I can always find help (or a point in the right direction) here. Not just for genealogy, but just about any topic. (Yes, I know I'm repeating myself.)

Common Polish First Names
This isn't exactly a genealogy site, but I enjoy learning about my family's Polish names.

Poznan Project
A Polish marriage database.

ILLINOIS (the "S" is silent)

Illinois Marriage Index, 1763-1900
Obviously you are restricted to pre-1900 marriages here.

Ordering Birth Records from Illinois

Illinois State Genealogical Society

CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY

St. Adalbert Catholic Cemetery, Niles, Illinois
I have a lot of family members here. Also see this link.

Cook County USGenWeb site

Cook County Clerk's Office - Vital Records

Chicago Genealogical Society
Their list of links is very useful.

Polk's Directory for 1928-1929
This is very interesting. It is like a phone book, but without the phone numbers. It lists all the addresses in Chicago, and all the residents at those addresses. (It also lists businesses.) This is not useful if you have a name, and are looking for an address, but I obtained an address for a relative and was able to locate them in this directory. This is a very large PDF file, be patient while it loads.

CALIFORNIA

Polish Genealogical Society of California

Los Angeles Regional Family History Center (LDS)
I am looking forward to visiting this place sometime this year. I can't wait to see all the great info available there.

March 6 - Celebrate Your Name Week

March 2-8 - Celebrate Your Name Week
Official Site
More info, on Wikipedia

Just about each day this week has had a different name-related holiday. Yesterday, I posted about learning the meaning of your names.

One way to celebrate your name is to find out your Name Day. This is a more popular activity in Europe, but I think it is a good idea that we should adopt in the US. I think that Name Days could be like a second birthday, only without the questions about your age. (Yes, I am old enough to start fretting about that.)

Oddly enough, my Name Day falls on the same day as my boyfriend's birthday (September 6). I guess this means I get presents too. When is your Name Day?

Another way to celebrate is to listen to songs with your name in them. Jennys of the world, you can omit this. (You know, 867-5309...remember now?)

My favorite Alyson song is "Alison's the Bomb," by the Huntingtons. Not only because I am the bomb, but because in the liner of this CD, instead of the lyrics, there is a drawing of a girl wearing a Ghoti Hook shirt. And Ghoti Hook is just about my favoritest band in the world (RIP).

My second favorite would have to be "Alison," by Elvis Costello. This is the song most frequently sung to me when people discover my name.

I also like "Allison," by The Pixies. Even though it is not about a girl named Allison. (It is actually about Mose Allison, the jazz/blues musician.) Lyrics here, and a video here.

March 5 - Learn What Your Name Means Day

March 5 - Learn What Your Name Means Day

Aly (short for Alyson, variant of Alice): truth, noble, or noble type

I found my name on Wikipedia, but there are many baby name websites that have the meaning and origin of first names.

As for last names, those may be trickier to define. Try some genealogy websites; I found mine on about.com. My last name is Polish, and translates as "little evening."

According to the website, my surname "may have been intended as a nickname for someone who was active or worked in the late afternoon or evening, or one who often held little parties in the evening."

What do your names mean?