Discover your past … Discover yourself

Posted on June 23, 2010 by

Prairie Roots logoWelcome to the Prairie Roots Genealogy blog, a companion to the Prairie Roots Research website. This blog chronicles a journey of discovery, exploring the history of Iowa’s people and places. Join me in this adventure; together we’ll explore Iowa’s nooks & crannies, investigate historical & genealogical resources, and gain a greater understanding of our Iowa heritage.

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Federal Census Records: 1940

Posted on January 26, 2012 by

1940 census posterWe want to move backwards through time as we research our family, remember? The federal government does not release census information for seventy-two years. So until now, researchers could only access the census through 1930.

But guess what? This year, 2012, marks seventy-two years since the 1940 census was conducted, and those schedules are set to be made public this April, according to the following press release from the National Archives: Continue reading →

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Iowa Calendar: February 2012

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

February 2012Treat your Valentine and yourself to one or more of these fine Iowa programs this month.

Saturday, February 11, 2012: Grant Wood’s Birthday Soup Smorgasbord. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Ledon KD Center, 300 KD Avenue, Eldon. American Gothic House Center, 641-652-3365.

Join the American Gothic House Center to celebrate the 121st anniversary of Grant Wood’s birth (officially on February 13). Enjoy delicious home-cooked soup straight from the kitchens of American Gothic House Center volunteers! Complete the meal and the celebration with a slice of birthday cake or a brownie and a mug of hot coffee. Freewill donations are welcome. Continue reading →

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Winter Reading: Legal and Political Status of Women in Iowa

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

Legal and Political Status of Women in IowaWinter is always a good time to settle in with some heavy-duty reading. I just finished Legal and Political Status of Women in Iowa: An Historical Account of the Rights of Women in Iowa from 1838 to 1918, by Ruth A. Gallaher. Even the title is heavy-duty!

Originally published in 1918 by the State Historical Society of Iowa, this historical study of women in Iowa is available as a reprint or as a free Google ebook. Since I like to highlight and annotate books that interest me, I purchased a copy from Amazon for $22.61.

My initial goal was to learn about 19th century property rights. Territorial Iowa relied on old English Common Law to define the rights of women; after statehood they gradually gained ground legally. Single women always had much the same legal rights as men, although they may not have exercised those rights fully due to the  pressures of society. Married women under common law surrendered all their basic legal rights and property to their husbands. Continue reading →

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Federal Census Records: Index Options

Posted on January 19, 2012 by
1920 Soundex card

1920 Soundex card

If you want to use microfilm copies of the federal census for your family history research, you will first need to narrow your search by consulting an index. There are a variety of options available. Keep in mind that most published indexes will only list the heads of households. Continue reading →

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Federal Census Records: The Old-fashioned Way

Posted on January 13, 2012 by
Census 1870

Harper's Weekly, 1870

These days, it’s pretty easy to access Federal census records. The original enumeration schedules and federal copies for 1790 to 1870, and the surviving fragments for 1890, are housed at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, D.C. All have been microfilmed.

Originals for 1880 and copies for other years are housed in various state repositories. Originals for 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 no longer exist—they were destroyed after microfilming. Continue reading →

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Iowa Calendar: January 2012

Posted on December 31, 2011 by

January 2012There’s so much to see and do in Iowa– even in the winter! Here are my favorite opportunities for January 2012:

  • Sunday January 8 – Friday, February 24: “The White Rose” Exhibit, German American Heritage Center, 712 West 2nd Street, Davenport. Hours: Tues. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Admission: Adults $5, Seniors $4, Children $3. Under age 5 free.

The exhibit explores one of Germany’s most famous civilian resistance groups, formed by a small group of university students in Munich during 1941-42. The leaders were brother and sister Hans and Sophie Scholl and friends. Using only their ingenuity and youthful fearlessness, they outwitted the Nazis to issue several leaflets that urged their fellow students and citizens of Munich to resist Nazi tyranny. Continue reading →

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Federal Census Records: History

Posted on December 28, 2011 by

Mary & JosephThe desire of a government to count its people is as old as civilization itself. The ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Chinese and Greeks are all known to have counted their inhabitants on a regular basis.

Perhaps the most famous example is the Roman Empire’s mandatory enumeration which forced Mary and Joseph to make their fateful trek to Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Continue reading →

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Federal Census Records: An Overview

Posted on December 10, 2011 by

1900 censusYou’ve made the decision to research your family history, selected a genealogical software program, interviewed your entire family, exhausted Grandma’s Family Bible records, and located as many vital records (birth, marriage, and death) as possible. Now what?

Once you’ve completed all those “first steps” in your family history project, you’re ready to move forward into the next phase of your research. Remember, you’ll want to work backwards through time, one generation at a time, beginning with what you know and investigating what you don’t know.

You’re  ready to delve into the wonderful world of census records! The United States Federal Government has conducted a census of its people every ten years since 1790. These records are readily available in a variety of formats, and can help you trace your family back through time, answering many genealogical questions along the way.

This series of posts explores the Federal Census, providing guidelines, tips and techniques to help on your journey.

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What Are You Reading This Fall?

Posted on November 15, 2011 by
President Zachary Taylor

President Zachary Taylor

Making time to read good books is not always easy, but it adds richness and perspective to life that we may otherwise lack. Reading is a great way to relax, unwind, and escape into another time and place. It’s also one of the best ways to learn history, and to understand your ancestor’s place in the past. Historical context is one of the most overlooked aspects of genealogical research.

So what are you reading this fall? Some time ago I decided to read my way through the United States presidents. Depending on the individual and the talents of the authors, some have been more interesting than others. Continue reading →

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Education: Iowa Genealogical Society Fall Conference

Posted on October 30, 2011 by

IGS Fall Conference 2011The Iowa Genealogical Society sponsors two major conferences annually in Des Moines, Iowa. The Spring Conference is usually technology-based. Past years have focused on genealogical software. Spring 2012 will feature workshops on photography: software, restoration and preservation.

The Fall 2011 Conference, October 14 – 15, 2011,  carried no theme title, but featured Native American researcher Billie Stone Fogarty. Her presentations not only explored Native American ancestry, but a number of other topics of more general interest: Continue reading →

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