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This article first appeared in the July 1997 issue of the Journal of Online Genealogy
With the World Wide Web so full of information, don't overlook non-genealogical Web sites when searching for our ancestors on the Internet.
In the ongoing quest for our online roots, we might habitually navigate the Web looking exclusively for genealogy Web sites. By looking only for genealogy Web sites, we may be ignoring other valuable sources of online information which can be of help to us in our research. The "genealogy-only" blinders may result in artificially limiting the power of this wonderful research tool we have. The Web sites reviewed below were not placed on the Internet with genealogical research as their primary purpose. While not specific to genealogy, they do provide a sampling of what types of genealogy-related sites are out there. These types of sites should not be overlooked by the online researcher.
Biography is the hand maiden of family history. It may come as a surprise to we genealogists that other hobbyists pursue biographical information for reasons which have nothing to do with tracing family connections. One group of enthusiasts who research biographical details in pursuit of their hobby are military medal and photograph collectors.
A fruitful source for these collectors are the pictures and campaign medals of the British army in the reign of Queen Victoria. Photography had become relatively common place in the second half of the Nineteenth century and Great Britain's armed forces were engaged in minor and major colonial wars around the globe. Not only did these wars result in possessions of the state such as the recently returned Hong Kong, they also generated thousands personal possessions such as campaign medals and personal photographs of the Queen's soldiers. Such personal ephemera of Empire have now become collectibles as they have aged over a century. The campaign medals awarded for participation in particular wars were usually inscribed with the recipient's name and regiment number. The photographs are often dedicated and signed on the reverse as the soldiers sent their images back home to their loved ones. Given a soldier's name and regiment from either an inscribed medal or a photograph, a great deal of biographical information can be obtained on the individual by researching the records held by the United Kingdom's Public Record Office (http://www.pro.gov.uk/) and from other sources.
An excellent example of how medal and photograph collecting can be combined with scholarly research to produce outstanding biography can be seen at Fred Larimore's 19th Century British and Indian Armies and their Soldiers Web site (http://pobox.upenn.edu/~fbl/). Fred's Web site is basically divided in two parts, one for some of the amazing photographs he's collected and researched, and the other for some of the medals he's collected, researched, and photographed. Each of the two parts is further divided in two between British and Indian army soldiers.
As a family historian, be prepared to turn green with envy as you read the research that Fred has conducted on these individuals who are not his own ancestors. A picture of Captain Louis John George Ferrier also includes information on his birth, his parents and their families, his education, military service, and the story of his tragic death. Notice that Fred has included footnote references throughout his text to indicate where his research came from. Military historians will be interested in the photograph & uniform details of the good Captain's picture.
In an example of beginning research with campaign medals, the medals of Regimental Sergeant Major George Dutton provided Dutton's name, regiment, and service number (see the bottom of his page). Based on this, Fred Larimore was able to research a very interesting biography from the original records of RSM Dutton's service. George Dutton's place of birth, father's name & occupation, physical description, military service, and where he was discharged.
Fred Larimore has set a high mark in excellence for the creation of biographies on the World Wide Web. Far from lifeless photographs or mere names etched into medals, Fred has brought these soldiers' stories to life with his carefully documented research and his artful Web presentation. As a final example, the physical description given of James Hunt, alias Corporal Benjamin J. Rodgers provides some very interesting comments regarding his tattoos. One wonders who Alice Cooper was. A sweetheart left behind, perhaps?
Railroads were instrumental in the development of modern nations and many of our ancestors helped build them and run them. In the United States, most families have at least one railroad ancestor. The railroads' steel pathways also helped to define the migration patterns of those ancestors who did not work on the railroads but followed where they led.
The changing technologies and economics of the Twentieth century have transformed what were once hundreds of independent railways throughout the U.S. to today's handful of major carriers. This reduction and amalgamation has helped to create a diverse group of hobbyists devoted to keeping the history and memories of the individual railway lines alive. Railroad Historical Societies are a diverse mixture of former employees, historians, modelers, preservationists, and other enthusiasts. They help maintain the oral, written, pictorial, and physical record of particular rail lines, whether defunct, absorbed, or still operating. An excellent listing these societies and their lines of interest is the Railroad Historical Societies Web site (http://tucson.com/concor/histsoc.html).
These societies are primarily concerned with the history and preservation of their rail line and not with the individual employment of your particular railroad ancestor. However, they are an excellent place to start asking questions about where the employment records might be found. You might also be able to explain your family's migration pattern across the United States by learning where a particular rail line ran. Write to these historical societies by snail mail or use their e-mail addresses where provided. More railroad links may be found at Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet - Railroads (http://www.CyndisList.com/railroad.htm).
To cope with their rapidly changing world, our male ancestors often sought refuge in the close bonds of association provided by fraternal organizations. These fraternal organizations, such as the Masons and Odd Fellows, were great record keepers. Even defunct lodges will usually have their membership records forwarded to the appropriate state or national organization for safe keeping. I have personally had wonderful luck in obtaining lodge membership records on two of my great grandfathers. Their records have solved some peculiar puzzles of dates and locations in my own family history.
Fraternal organizations rarely have their records computerized and they do not provide them online. You will have to write to them by snail mail to obtain the information you seek. There are several Web sites which can help you determine the correct snail mail address. Below are sites useful for contacting the Odd Fellows and the Masons.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Sovereign Grand Lodge's Web site (http://norm28.hsc.usc.edu/IOOF.shtml) explains the purpose and history of the Odd Fellows and their auxiliaries. Information and addresses for state and local lodges can be found at Odd Fellow/Rebekah Activities by Jurisdiction. Be sure to visit their Family History Research Web page as well.
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Massachusetts hosts a list of Masonic Grand Lodges (http://www.glmasons-mass.org/Grand_Lodge/glna.htm). This list includes snail mail addresses and links to some state Grand Lodge Web sites. These state Web sites will usually provide a contact e-mail address which may result in a quicker response to your query. Remember that the Corresponding Secretaries of these fraternal organizations do not volunteer their time primarily to assist family historians. A polite query and a prompt "thank you" for any help received assures that these busy volunteers will continue to take time to assist the next family historian seeking information.
Off the topic of non-traditional sources for a moment, we may tend to think of Archives and Libraries as being a bit stuffy and somewhat humorless places. There are exceptions to this stereotype and one Archive in particular transcends this image even through its Web pages. The Somerset Archive and Record Office (http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/default.htm) in southwest England has an excellent Web site which includes guides to their holdings as well as a primer on Your Somerset Family - A Guide to Tracing Your Family History. With such a thorough and professional electronic presence on the Internet, it is a delight to find a touch of whimsy included in their Web site. If you follow the links to the Somerset Archive and Record Service Staff page, at the very bottom of that page you will find the job title for the Somerset Archive's Volunteer Rodent Control Operative and Reception Assistant. Following the link to Patch, you'll see why the Somerset Archives has found the "purrfect" balance of utility and fun in their Web pages.
In an e-mail interview with one of Patch's co-workers, I was told that Patch "is unswayed by her electronic fame. She is well aware that she is the centre of the universe and knows what is her due." Fan mail may be sent to the V.R.C.O. & R.A. at the Somerset Archives (Somerset_Archives@compuserve.com). To ensure proper routing, please begin the subject line of any correspondence with the word Patch. Patch is reportedly not the most diligent of correspondents as grooming and napping take up a large portion of the V.R.C.O. & R.A.'s busy schedule. Be assured that all communications will be displayed to Patch in the order in which they are received. Patch's technical support people working on the addition of a digital purr as an acknowledgment to her many remote fans.
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