For $subst('Recip.EmailAddr') March 2, 2006 The Civil War Preservation Trust just announced its 2006 list of the 10 most endangered battle sites (see the article below). AncestorNews columnist Nancy Hendrickson's been receiving droves of e-mails from readers about neglected cemeteries. If you're worried about an at-risk historic site in your community, there's a place you can go for help: At http://www.nationaltrust.org/help/index.html?cat=0, the National Trust for Historic Preservation offers a directory of state and local preservation contacts, guidance on saving historic buildings and more. Thanks for reading! —Diane Haddad, Newsletter Editor ftmnews-editor@fwpubs.com P.S. Make sure you don't miss a single issue of your E-mail Update! Add our address (familytree-newsletter@fwpubs.com) to your email-address book—your software will recognize the Update as an e-mail you want to read. Battlefield Battles Keystone to Obituaries Hello, Big Brother Storied Existence AncestorNews: Cemetery Feedback Tip of the Week: The Five Ws Worthwhile Web Sites Identifying Family Photographs: The Plane Truth Speakers' Schedule Advertiser Special Offers Battlefield Battles The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) unveiled its annual report on the country's 10 most threatened Civil War sites Tuesday. Actor Ben Stein, an avid battlefield preservationist, joined CWPT president James Lighthizer to announce the 2006 list. For more information on threats to these sites, see http://www.civilwar.org: Gettysburg, Pa. (shown): Developers want to build a gaming facility a mile from East Cavalry Field. Shenandoah Valley of Virginia: The proposed widening of Interstate-81 threatens Cedar Creek, site of a series of battles, and 10 other battlefields. Glorieta Pass, NM: State Route 50 runs through the heart of this battlefield, closing much of it to visitors. Chattahoochee River Line, Ga.: Suburban development has devastated this line of sites stretching along the northern banks of the Chattahoochee River. Circle Forts, Washington, DC: CWPT wants better protection for this ring of forts built to defend the Union capital. Fort Morgan, Ala.: This Confederate fort, which once withstood 18 days of Union bombardment, has fallen into disrepair. Glendale, Va.: Housing developments threaten all but 262 acres of this 7,888-acre batlefield (also known as Frayser's Farm). New Orleans Forts, La.: Hurricane Katrina severely damaged these Condfederate forts. Raymond, Miss.: Only 65 acres of this thousand-acre battlefield are protected against development along State Highway 18. Wilderness, Va.: This once-rural area is suburbanizing itself, threatening unprotected parts of the battlefield. Keystone to Obituaries The Butler Area Public Library in Butler, Pa., has posted a free online index to more than 75,000 names from Butler County newspaper obituaries published between 1824 and 1960, and 1990 and 2000. The western Pennsylvania county is home to towns including Butler, Annandale and Slippery Rock. Log on to http://www.bcfls.org/butler/obitmain.htm and perform a basic search by last name plus optional first name and year. You also can do an advanced search by last name plus first name, maiden name or nickname, title (such as Dr., Ms., Mr.), and birth and death years. The advanced option lets you choose Soundex searching for names, and a range for dates. Results show the person's name, place, newspaper and obituary date, and if available, a nickname, age and birth date. The library's Web site says last names starting with R through Z aren't yet included, but I found Smiths and Wrights, so give end-of-the-alphabet names a shot anyway. Once you've found some likely suspects, you can use the online form to request a copy of one article for $5, or up to five articles for $10. If your ancestors predate the Butler County index, check newspapers from nearby Allegheny, Armstrong and Mercer counties. Hello, Big Brother Looking for someone? InfoUSA recently yanked its FindUSA database—popular with genealogists seeking distant relatives—but you can use Stephen P. Morse's new Finding Birthdates and Related Persons tool instead. It mines the database used by both the PrivateEye and PeopleFinders Web sites. Morse gives you two Search buttons—since it's the same data, it doesn't matter which button you click unless one of the sites is down. Just go to http://www.stevemorse.org/birthday/privateeye.html and type in as much information as you know about a person, then click either search button. You'll get back a list of names, ages and associated locations for your search subject, plus names of his or her potential relatives. Morse suggests using this information to fill in family group sheets, but cautions you to take the birth information with a grain of salt. If you want more information on the person, you'll need to order a report for a minimum of $9.95. I looked for several people I know and the names and locations that popped up seemed to be right-on (it's a little frightening, really). Storied Existence StoryCorps' MobileBooths—the two recording studios-on-wheels that roam the country so ordinary citizens can tape interviews with their family and friends—may be stopping in a city near you this spring. Make your reservations now: Every interview slot was booked during last year's 23-city tour. People as diverse as Chicago urbanites; Minneapolis homeless youth; Madison, Wis., Tibetan monks; and North Dakota Indian reservation residents told their stories. Eventually, the recordings will become part of the Library of Congress' (http://loc.gov) collections. This year, the MobileBooths will make longer stops in fewer cities including Atlanta; Flagstaff, Ariz.; and New Orleans. See http://www.storycorps.net/participate/record_an_interview/locations for a schedule and reservation instructions. Two standing StoryCorps booths have opened in New York City, too: One at Grand Central Station was dedicated last month, and a booth near Ground Zero is the first element of an interim World Trade Center memorial. It's reserved for use by people directly affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Can't get an appointment? Log on to the StoryCorps Web site and click Participate for a Question Generator tool and a do-it-yourself oral history interview guide. Cemetery Feedback Well, my friends, the subject of private cemeteries and or moving remains from one cemetery to another seems to have opened a Pandora's box! See what readers have to say at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/ancestornews/current.html. AncestorNews columnist Nancy Hendrickson is the author of Finding Your Roots Online, on sale now at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/store/display.asp?id=70583. Browse past AncestorNews columns at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/ancestornews/previous.html. The Five Ws This week's tip comes from the April 2006 Family Tree Magazine, available from http://www.familytreemagazine.com/magazine.asp: Whenever you contact someone to request family tree information, always write down the person's first and last name (ask him to spell it), job title, date you made the contact and the nature of the message or interaction. Keep a notebook handy to quickly record this information during telephone or face-to-face interactions. Do you have a great idea for discovering, preserving or celebrating family history? E-mail us your tip at ftmnews-editor@fwpubs.com with "TIP OF THE WEEK" in the subject line. If we publish it, you'll win a free copy of Digitizing Your Family History by Rhonda R. McClure, also available for purchase online at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/store/display.asp?id=70660. Overwhelmed by the number of family history-related Web sites popping up? FamilyTreeMagazine.com sorts through them all—whew!—to bring you only the very best. We recently recommended the following as Sites of the Week: • Unsolved Ancestry http://www.unsolvedancestry.com Earn a reward for helping another genealogist hurdle a brick wall. Or offer a prize to someone who can solve your problem. • Federal Township Plats of Illinois http://landplats.ilsos.net/flash/welcome.html View images of plats from more than 3,400 Illinois townships between 1804 and 1891. • Look to the Past http://www.looktothepast.com Find cemetery and census transcriptions, links to vital-records data and more for Missouri ancestors. • Cut the Crop http://www.cutthecrop.com Preserve your family history with these heritage scrapbooking ideas and tips. The Plane Truth It's no mystery who's in this portrait: The couple on the left are Jacqui Marcella's grandparents Arthur and Theresa Henschel. But Marcella can't figure out when and where the picture was taken, and why they're posed with an airplane. This photo proves genealogy and history are intertwined, and delving into one can lead to learning about the other. What's the plane truth? Find out at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/ photos/current.htm. In this Web-exclusive column, expert photo historian Maureen A. Taylor helps readers analyze old family pictures. If you have a family photo mystery for Taylor to solve, check out our submission guidelines at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/photos/photohelp.htm. Port Charlotte, Fla. Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak March 11 Charlotte County Genealogical Society at St. James Episcopal Church Topic: Real World DNA Reverse Genealogy Find That Obituary! Online Newspaper Research Remembering Our Ancestors For more information, contact bfleshman46@comcast.net. Colorado Springs, Col. Sharon DeBartolo Carmack March 18 Zebulon Pike Chapter, Daughters of the American Revoution Topic: Mrs. Who?: Methods for Finding Your Female Ancestors For more information, see members.aol.com/zebpikedar. Ft. Pierce, Fla. Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak March 18 Treasure Coast Genealogical Society Topics: Trace Your Roots with DNA Beyond Y-DNA: Your Genetic Genealogy Options For more information, see http://www.rootsweb.com/~fltcgs/. Deland, Fla. Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak March 19 Roots & Branches Genealogical Society at DeLand Public Library Topic: Trace Your Roots with DNA For more information, contact Jerry Hale at randiosailor@juno.com. Collingswood, NJ Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak March 23 Camden County Historical Society at Collingswood Senior-Community Center Topic: Trace Your Roots with DNA For more information, see http://www.CCHSnj.com. Vancouver, Wa. Sharon DeBartolo Carmack March 25 Clark County Genealogical Society Topics: Primetime's 20/20 Dateline: Sharon Carmack Interviews Ole Smirnoff Bernatelli, the World's Oldest Living Genealogist (with James W. Warren) Writing Your Female Ancestors' Stories Mrs. Who?: Methods for Finding Your Female Ancestors For more information, see http://www.ccgs-wa.org/p4307.htm. PRINTING & BINDING:  Archival hardbound books with 4-color ink-based printing.  Over 53 years experience as bookbinders.  http://www.familyheritagepublishers.com Genealogy Hotel Rates in Salt Lake-You will love the genealogy rates at the Holiday Inn-Downtown along with the free shuttles to & from the Family History Library.  www.holiday-inn.com/slc-downtown PUBLISH YOUR FAMILY HISTORY. Preserve and share your precious family research. Personal coaching. Many options.  www.GatewayPress.com RootsMagic Genealogy Software - "An excellent choice for any genealogist" says Family Tree Magazine. Get a free trial copy at http://www.RootsMagic.com UNIQUE SCANDINAVIAN HERITAGE TOURS Visit ancestral villages, parish churches, archives, connect with family.  Fluent guides and genealogy experts included.  www.scandgen.com Get Family Tree Magazine back issues at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/mags. Explore Family Tree Magazine E-mail Update past issues at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/newsletter/archive.html. Get free Family Tree News Service articles for your genealogy newsletter or Web site at http://www.familytreemagazine.com/ftns-subscribe.asp. Sponsor This Newsletter For information on sponsoring this newsletter or to receive a rate card, e-mail kworkman@longshoremedia.com You have received this e-mail because you expressed interest in receiving updates about genealogy and genealogy products from Family Tree Magazine and Betterway Books by e-mail. Thanks for your subscription! 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