*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* CFA Online Newsletter August 2001 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* WELCOME! Thank you for subscribing to the CFA Online Newsletter. We're happy to have you with us and we'd like to hear from you. If you have something to add to the newsletter or ideas for future editions, please contact Cindy at (archive only). Thanks! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* TID BITS The Story Tellers..... We are the chosen. In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve. Doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called, as it were, by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us: Tell our story. So, we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would be proud of us? How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say. It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do. It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family. It goes to deep pride that the fathers fought and some died to make and keep us a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. It is of equal pride and love that our mothers struggled to give us birth, without them we could not exist, and so we love each one, as far back as we can reach. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are they and they are the sum of who we are. So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take my place in the long line of family storytellers. (Unknown Author) *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ONLINE "HUNTING" TIPS Vital Records - This site contains information about where to obtain vital records (such as birth, death & marriage certificates and divorce decrees) from each state, territory and county of the United States. This site's located at: http://www.vitalrec.com/ Molecular Genealogy - This isn't exactly a "hunting tip", but it is a very interesting concept in genealogy and family history. New research studies claim that we can use DNA not only to prove a relationship to an individual, but to actually determine our ancestry. To learn more about this hot new topic, you can visit the BYU Molecular Genealogy site at: http://molecular-genealogy.byu.edu/ Deciphering Old Handwriting - Census records, Probate records, Deeds, Wills, and the list goes on... I'm sure that everyone has come across a word or name that you cannot make out. This site provides some very helpful hints and information for those puzzles. http://www.amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/oldhand.html Civil War Soldiers & Sailors - A National Parks Service site providing a computerized database of soldiers, sailors, regiments, cemeteries, battles, prisoners and medals of honor. The CWSS database currently contains approximately 2.5 million soldier names from over 30 states and territories - and is still growing! http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/ Bureau of Land Management - This site had been recently updated to include original IMAGES! The database is searchable and the images are provided in several different formats (suitable for different computers and Internet speeds). http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/search.asp *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* MEMBERSHIP NEW: #450 Myrl Kenneth CHAPMAN - Nancy Boyd, TX #451 Kathy L. CROUCH - John A., CO #452 Elwin L. CHAPMAN, Sr., SC #453 Sharon E. CHUVALAS, OH #454 Alan L. JOHNSON, NE RENEWALS: #008 Phyllis L. (Shelly) CHAPMAN, MO #022 Donald D. CHAPMAN - Diana E., FL #031 James L. CHAPMAN - Carol A., WA #173 Cathryn M. BUTLER - Stephen R., VT #274 Patty S. PULASKY - Paul S., CA *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* MEMBERSHIP INFO You can view the membership information on the CFA Web Site at: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~chapassn/memberapp.html *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* CFA OFFICERS PRESIDENT: Robert Chapman email: robertbchapman@cs.com VICE PRESIDENT: Toni Martinazzi email: toni@hitter.net SECRETARY: Jackie Chapman Konecny email: JKone27534@aol.com TREASURER: M.D. Chapman Morgan email: 74454.2063@compuserve.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Robert L. Sonfield email: robert@sonfield.com LIBRARIAN: Dian Chapman Gustafson email: chappie@nwamiga.org HISTORIAN: (Vacant) EDITOR: Robert B. Chapman email: robertbchapman@cs.com GENEALOGIST: (Vacant) WEB MASTER: Mari Modlin PUBLICIST: Phyllis "Shelly" Chapman email: lazarusette@hotmail.com CORRESPONDING SECRETARY: Gilbert K. Alford, Jr. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Should you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact Cindy Kuhn, CFA Online Newsletter Editor, by email at sinda_k@yahoo.com *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*