Gone but not Forgotten: Best of the Best History/Genealogy

1. Gone but not Forgotten:Best of the Best History/Genealogy Highlands University Las Vegas, New Mexico Laurie Canepa presenter July 11, 2008 With thanks to: Sandy Rizzo – Mesa Public Library, Mesa Arizona – Power Point Development The Government Information in the 21st Century Program is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.  Additional support is provided by the University of Colorado at Boulder as well as New Mexico State Library; Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records; Wyoming State Library; and University of Utah.

2. Gi21 • The GI21 (Government Information in the 21st Century) IMLS grant involves five states – New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, & Wyoming, and several years of planning • Program Model: Federal Depository Library Program (FLDP) Librarians prepare modules and train non-depository librarians on free government information in a variety of topics • Content developed and offered on WebJunction; brought to the library community through trainers in the five states at training events

3. WebJunction • WebJunction - Online community where library staff meet to share ideas, solve problems, take online courses - and have fun! • Funded by Bill & Melinda Gates, developed by OCLC, offered to all library staff in AZ by the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records • Register - free! http://az.webjunction.org/do/Home • WebJunction used to develop all topic modules for grant. Page for project: http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=14562 And about this topic: http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=14637

4. History • The US Government has collected much information over course of our history (pre-colonial, post-colonial, and as a nation). • Some primary, some secondary, and some digitized after the fact. • Format types include maps, books, documents, correspondence, photographs, films. • We’ll focus on what’s online - great places to look and know about for your reference questions.

5. Our National Heritage – Who keeps a record? • National Archives www.archives.gov The National Archives and Records Administration serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, ensuring that the people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. …Ensure continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens & the actions of their government. …Support democracy, promote civic education, & facilitate historical understanding of our national experience.

6. “Our Documents” from Archives Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents of History www.ourdocuments.gov • Looking for that great historic document or speech? • Bill of Rights, Federalist Papers, Monroe Doctrine, Amendments to the Constitution, Social Security Act, etc. presented in chronological order, 1776-1965. • Also, The People’s Vote (gives idea which items Americans think are important) Exercise Use www.ourdocuments.gov to find and explain the purpose of: • The Treaty of Guadalupe Idalgo • Manhattan Project Notebook • Anything to do with Social Security

7. Places to Start (cont’d) • Library of Congress www.loc.gov The Library's mission is to make its resources available and useful to the Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations. • American Memory from Library of Congress www.memory.loc.gov Air raid drill poster, 1941-43

8. Places to Start (cont’d) • Smithsonian www.smithsonian.org/ • James Smithson: • An establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge • Many finding aids online • Online exhibitions • Click “museums” to get access to their offerings Smithsonian History and Culturehttp://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/History_and_Culture/ State Department: Outline of US History: http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/histryotln/index.htm

9. Presidents • Public Papers of the PresidentsGPO Access (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/pubpapers/index.html) includes Presidents George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush. • University of Michigan (http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/federal.html) includes Presidents Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Clinton. • Presidential Libraries: http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/index.html • Images of Presidents/First Spouses: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/odmdhtml/preshome.html • Outside source: http://www.millercenter.virginia.edu/academic/americanpresident/

10. Military History • See handout • Exercise: Using NARA Resources Civil War: http://www.archives.gov/research/civil-war/index.html Find a photograph of Major General Joseph Hooker in the Civil War. Fort Sumter, SC under Confederate flag, 1961

11. Early Am. History, Westward Expansion, Immigration These pages offer plenty of government links on these topics. WebJunction page on Early American History: http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=19160 WebJunction page on sources for Westward Expansion: http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15356 Webjunction page on sources for Immigration History: http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15361

12. Census - Population Historical Census Browser – University of Virginia Libraryhttp://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/ Census 1790-1960 and related topics (literacy, slavery, etc.) – can also map your findings! Exercise How many persons of Italian origin does the 1900 census show in the US, and what was the most populous state? What other states showed a strong presence?

13. Native American History Smithsonian – American Indian History and Culture http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/History_and_Culture/AmericanIndian_History.htm Information based on exhibits from various musuems and online exhibits Scroll down page, as well as examine left menu for topics Bureau of Indian Affairs – scroll to Cultural Web Site/Links http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html Wissham woman, c. 1909

14. Just for Fun History America’s Story from America’s Library: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi What in the World is That? Ingenious Inventions Throughout History, From Library of Congress http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/science/learn_more.html US Mint Kids Page – Coin News section http://www.usmint.gov/kids/coinNews/

15. Genealogy • One great place! National Archives • Finding Guides from NARA http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/ See: “What You Can Do On This Web Site” “What You Can Find Online” (on above pg) “Starting Your Genealogy Research” Also use Census (databases, web)

16. Wrap Up • History/Genealogy Module on WebJunctionhttp://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=14637 • Contact closest Depository Library – Directory of New Mexico Depository Libraries: • http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=138&Itemid=402 Libraries with depositories include: • New Mexico State Library - Regional • New Mexico State University • Farmington Public Library • New Mexico Junior College • University of New Mexico - Regional • Highlands University • New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology • Eastern New Mexico University • Western New Mexico University • Supreme Court Law Library and UNM Law Library • Laurie Canepa – laurie.canepa@state.nm.us