Be Sure to Visit my new 1900 Galveston Storm Website at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootseb.com/~barnette 

RECORDS LOST, DAMAGED AND IMPERILED

 Genealogists and historians lament the loss of many of the nation's public records by fires and other natural disasters of the past. Events in the past month, however, has demonstrated how precarious and fragile records used by genealogists remain. During the past month publicly owned books, records and documents have been lost, damaged, and imperiled at three different public facilities across the United States.

 A fire of unknown origin at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Suitland, Maryland on Tuesday, February 29 endangered one stack of over 3,000 cubic feet of records. Of those endangered, fewer than 300 cubic feet of unidentified records may have been destroyed. Most of the affected records were wet or damp from sprinkler water or in singed boxes. Efforts are underway to identify and save as many of the records as possible.

 In the last week of March the National Archives and Records Administration-Southeast Region facility in East Point, Georgia experienced a fire threat. A building next to the Records Center caught fire. It was feared the flames would spread to the Records Center or the heat from the fire might set off the sprinkler system inside the metal building. The fire was brought under control and a catastrophe was averted.

 The NARA-Southeast houses federal records from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

 A third incident occurred Tuesday, March 28 in Fort Worth. A tornado crossed the Trinity River on the west side of town and headed into the downtown business area. The Downtown Central Library, along with most other buildings of the downtown area were hit or damaged directly or indirectly by high winds and the tornado.

 Six months ago the library had re-opened after a $7 Million expansion and facelift. All of the library's windows were blown out and the air conditioning system was badly damaged. There was water damage and physical damage to many areas of the building including several book areas and the rare book section. The whole of downtown Fort Worth is closed to the public while damage is being accessed to the library and other public and commercial buildings in the area.

GENEALOGICAL CLASSES

 Trevia Beverly will teach a six week overview course on how to conduct genealogical research. Genealogy-It's a Family Affair will be held at the First Baptist Church, I-10 and North Post Oak Road, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each Monday from April 10 through May 15. For more information and to register, contact Beverly at 713-864-6862.

 Sponsored by Houston Community College, Mic Barnette will present a one time three hour course, Surfing the Internet- For Genealogy. The course will be held on Wednesday April 19 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the HCC campus 1681 Cartwright in Missouri City. For more information and to register, contact HCC at 281-835-5539.

 Learn how to use one of the most popular genealogical software programs available today. Paula Perkins Parke will present Organizing Your Ancestors With Family Tree Maker Software. The class will be held Wednesday April 19 from 6:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at Leisure Learning's 2990 Richmond Avenue campus. For more information and to register contact Leisure Learning at 713-529-4414.

NEWS FROM THE BOOKSHELF

 Beginning genealogists are surprised how fast paper accumulates. Longtime genealogists learned that same lesson early in their research. They make excuses to relatives with whom they live and to visitors for their piles and stacks of "important"  papers and photocopies. Now nationally known lecturer and author, Sharon DeBartolo Carmack, has written a book that will help all genealogists-beginning and experienced.

 ORGANIZING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY SEARCH: Efficient & Effective Ways to Gather and Protect Your Genealogical Research is available for $16.99, plus postage from the publisher, Betterway Books, 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207.

  In an friendly and practical manner ORGANIZING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY SEARCH will guide the genealogist in reducing piles of paper, books and other materials. Once the clutter subsides, information will be more easily located and research time will be easier and more pleasurable.

 Aside from getting organized, the book explains how to reduce clutter by donation, preservation and publishing one's research data.

 To help one organize, the book offers a number of creative organizational forms. One form is designed for taking notes on a married couple or family. Another form lists the titles of files in a filing cabinet. Other charts log incoming and outgoing correspondence, a research journal, a research repository checklist, a census checklist, a cemetery transcription form, an article reading list, a book wish list, a research checklist of books and a form to list artifacts and heirlooms in the possession of other people.