We the people: Images, data among summer seminar topics

By Sharon Burns

Published: July 17, 2008

The Cleveland County Genealogical Society's summer seminar, "Ancestry Reality Show: Exploring Images and Data to Make Our Ancestors Real,” will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 2 at Norman Community Church of the Nazarene, 1804 N Porter, Norman.

Pat Gordon, professional writer and photographer, will focus on how to make the most out of using digital cameras and scanners and editing software. Her topics will include:

•"Going Digital: Using Digital Cameras and Scanners for Family History” — learn more about unused features and ways to solve problems you may encounter when shooting photos under less-than-perfect conditions.

•"Using Editing Software: Getting the Most from Your Digitized Images” — demonstration of basic photo editing software to digitally repair damaged areas and improve readability of illegible documents.

•"Beyond Vital Statistics: Just Who Are These People Anyway?” — learn how to find information about ancestors between vital statistic (birth and death) entries.

•"Earning a Living: Your Ancestors at Work” — occupation information found on the federal population census records combined with the special federal censuses will reveal how successful ancestors were at earning a living.

Registration is $40 per person. Include your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address, and make checks payable to the society, P.O. Box 6176, Norman, OK 73070. For a brochure and information, call the society's library at 701-2100 between 1 and 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays, or e-mail CCGS@csbi.org.

The Ancestor Fair sponsored by the Oklahoma Genealogical Society and the Oklahoma History Center Research Center will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9 in Devon Great Hall and Chesapeake Event Center, 2401 N Laird.

There will be lineage and genealogical society booths, musicians, storytellers, artists, a costume parade and a special children's area. Contests will include:

•Photographs of ancestors contest: Categories include hats, hair, babies, soldiers, children, costumes, weddings, open class, family reunions, unusual settings and scariest ancestor. Submit copies only with the category, your name, address, telephone number or e-mail address listed on the back. Entries will not be returned.

•Genealogy contest: Categories include five-generation study (all ancestors of one individual through their great-great-grandparents), photograph genealogy (at least four generations), family line traced to an immigrant, my Oklahoma pioneer (story), my favorite ancestor (story), a soldier's story (any war) and open class.

Entries will be received at the history center's Research Library and the Oklahoma Genealogical Society meeting prior to 6 p.m. Aug. 4. For more information, go online to www.okgensoc.org or call 631-1907.

If you have a question, event, idea or an experience you wish to share, e-mail Sharon Burns at sburns@oklahoman.com.

Comments