EXPLORE RELIC



November 2017 - The Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center for Genealogy and Local History (RELIC)







Start your historical journey here. RELIC's email newsletter highlights upcoming free events and happenings. Genealogy and local Virginia history is our specialty as a service provided by the Prince William Public Library. We're located at Bull Run Regional Library and you can always find more about us at www.pwcgov.org/library/relic<http://www.pwcgov.org/library/relic>









RESEARCHING VIRGINIA FAMILIES: THE CHALLENGES AND REWARDS

​            Learn about the many and varied resources available to trace your Virginia ancestors. RELIC staff genealogist Darlene Hunter will describe official records (and their substitutes), compiled records, finding aids and institutional records. She will also provide examples of how to locate and utilize them to document your Virginia genealogy.

Thursday, November 9, 11:00 a.m.<http://pwcgov.evanced.info/eventsignup.asp?ID=39293&rts=&disptype=&ret=eventcalendar.asp&pointer=&returnToSearch=&num=0&ad=&dt=mo&mo=11/1/2017&df=calendar&EventType=ALL&Lib=2&AgeGroup=ALL&LangType=0&WindowMode=&noheader=&lad=&pub=1&nopub=&page=&pgdisp=>



RIGHT HAND MAN?  ALEXANDER HAMILTON’S RELATIONSHIP WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON: THE MUSICAL VS. THE REALITY*



​            Washington scholar, Peter R. Henriques, examines Alexander Hamilton’s relationship with George Washington as portrayed in Hamilton, the blockbuster Broadway musical. How important was it? Were the men friends? What caused their falling out during the American Revolution? Dr. Henriques, Professor of History, Emeritus, from George Mason University, is the author of numerous books and articles, including Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington<http://bit.ly/2u7U7Fz>, which will be available for purchase. He has informed and entertained audiences at Colonial Williamsburg, Gadsby's Tavern, and numerous other venues including Bull Run Regional Library.



Tuesday, November 28, 7:00 p.m.<http://pwcgov.evanced.info/eventsignup.asp?ID=39291&rts=&disptype=&ret=eventcalendar.asp&pointer=&returnToSearch=&num=0&ad=&dt=mo&mo=11/1/2017&df=calendar&EventType=ALL&Lib=2&AgeGroup=ALL&LangType=0&WindowMode=&noheader=&lad=&pub=1&nopub=&page=&pgdisp=>















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RELIC INSIDER:







GRAVE ENCOUNTERS







Close to 500 cemeteries have been identified in Prince William County.  The earliest-known surviving grave marker dates to 1690 (Rose Peters, now at Rippon Lodge).  Very few engraved stones date before 1800.  Tombstones apparently weren’t a high priority during the colonial period, or were expensive and difficult to obtain.  Many of the old family graveyards have only rough “field stones.”







During the Great Depression, both the Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) and the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) took a hand at reading and transcribing old gravestones around the county.  Not surprisingly, though each group sometimes covered the same cemetery, they often found different markers and read the same stones differently.







In 1981, E.R. Conner III of Catharpin, Virginia, wrote and published One Hundred Old Cemeteries of Prince William County.  His work, considered more accurate than the previous abstracts, includes cemetery diagrams as well as historical information.  Later that decade, the Prince William County Genealogical Society began collecting cemetery data and published books on the Manassas City Cemetery and St. Paul’s Church (Haymarket).  (See the PWCGS books at http://eservice.pwcgov.org/library/digitalLibrary/)







Since the 1990s, Ron Turner, now of Gainesville, Virginia, has added greatly to the number of known cemeteries, working on his own and with local residents having special knowledge.  His work is now available online at www.pwcvirginia.com<http://www.pwcvirginia.com>.   Some of his research was funded by the Prince William County Historical Commission.  The data on each cemetery includes GPS readings, as well as abbreviated data about each grave.







Within the past couple of years, David Cuff, webmaster for Historic Prince William (HPW), has posted a map showing the locations of all known cemeteries in Prince William County:  http://www.historicprincewilliam.org, with links to Ron Turner’s cemetery data.  HPW is also active in uncovering and preserving local cemeteries.







RELIC has compiled a set of eight notebooks with cemetery data compiled from multiple sources, including Ron Turner, E. R. Conner, the DAR and WPA reports, plus a variety of special reports and news clippings.  A portion of the county’s cemetery data can now also be read online at www.findagrave.com<http://www.findagrave.com> and www.billiongraves.com<http://www.billiongraves.com>.







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COMING UP









GENEALOGY 101: GETTING STARTED

Discovering your family's history is both fun and rewarding. Genealogy Librarian Tish Como will demonstrate the essential first steps to take, and resources to use – most of which are available for free through the library – to ensure that your research is accurate, complete and well-documented.

Thursday, December 14, 2017, 11:00 a.m.



FAMILY TREE MAKER 2017: AN OVERVIEW

Genealogist Cheryl Day has used Family Tree Maker (FTM) software since 2002; she served as beta tester for the newest version of Family Tree Maker Genealogy Software (released by MacKiev). Join her for an overview of the main features of FTM 2017 including syncing technology built together with Ancestry, plus integration with FamilySearch, color coding, a photo repair tool and much more.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018 7:00 p.m.



GENEALOGY 201: BEYOND THE BASICS

Genealogy Librarian Tish Como will discuss effective research strategies and demonstrate advanced techniques for successfully searching and evaluating free online genealogy / history resources. See how information found in census, newspapers, passenger lists, maps, books and manuscripts can add detail and interest to your family history.

Thursday, January 11, 2018, 11:00 a.m.





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To read the latest lists of new materials available please click on What's New in RELIC http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/library/pages/relic-news.aspx







Unless otherwise stated, all of the preceding programs will take place at Bull Run Regional Library, 8051 Ashton Avenue, Manassas, Virginia.  Programs may last from 60 to 90 minutes.  You may register for any of these free programs at 703-792-4540 or mail to: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.







You may also register online at RELIC Programs http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/library/pages/relic-programs.aspx



by clicking on the program date.  Funding for selected RELIC programs is provided by the Friends of Bull Run Library.*  To be notified of upcoming library programs and activities, you may sign up for the PWPLS newsletter.













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This list is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).