Gone but not Forgotten:
Best of the Best
History/Genealogy
Highlands University
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Laurie Canepa presenter
July 11, 2008
With thanks to:
Sandy Rizzo – Mesa Public Library, Mesa Arizona – Power Point
Development
The Government Information in the 21st Century Program is made possible by a
grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. Additional support is
provided by the University of Colorado at Boulder as well as New Mexico State
Library; Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records; Wyoming State
Library; and University of Utah.
Gi21
st
 The GI21 (Government Information in the 21 Century)
IMLS grant involves five states – New Mexico, Arizona,
Utah, Colorado, & Wyoming, and several years of
planning
 Program Model: Federal Depository Library Program
(FLDP) Librarians prepare modules and train nondepository librarians on free government information in a
variety of topics
 Content developed and offered on WebJunction; brought
to the library community through trainers in the five
states at training events
WebJunction
 WebJunction - Online community where library staff
meet to share ideas, solve problems, take online courses
- and have fun!
 Funded by Bill & Melinda Gates, developed by OCLC,
offered to all library staff in AZ by the Arizona State
Library, Archives, and Public Records
 Register - free! http://az.webjunction.org/do/Home
 WebJunction used to develop all topic modules for
grant. Page for project:
http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=14562
And about this topic:
http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=14637
History
 The US Government has collected much
information over course of our history (precolonial, post-colonial, and as a nation).
 Some primary, some secondary, and some
digitized after the fact.
 Format types include maps, books, documents,
correspondence, photographs, films.
 We’ll focus on what’s online - great places to
look and know about for your reference
questions.
Our National Heritage – Who keeps a
record?
 National Archives www.archives.gov
The National Archives and Records Administration serves
American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the
records of our Government, ensuring that the people can
discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage.
…Ensure continuing access to the essential documentation of
the rights of American citizens & the actions of their
government. …Support democracy, promote civic education, &
facilitate historical understanding of our national experience.
“Our Documents” from Archives
Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents of History
www.ourdocuments.gov
• Looking for that great historic document or speech?
• Bill of Rights, Federalist Papers, Monroe Doctrine,
Amendments to the Constitution, Social Security Act, etc.
presented in chronological order, 1776-1965.
• Also, The People’s Vote (gives idea which items
Americans think are important)
Exercise
Use www.ourdocuments.gov to find and explain the purpose of:
– The Treaty of Guadalupe Idalgo
– Manhattan Project Notebook
– Anything to do with Social Security
Places to Start (cont’d)
 Library of Congress www.loc.gov
The Library's mission is to make its resources available and useful to
the Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a
universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations.
 American Memory from Library of Congress
www.memory.loc.gov
Air raid drill poster, 1941-43
Places to Start (cont’d)
 Smithsonian www.smithsonian.org/
• James Smithson:
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An establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge
Many finding aids online
Online exhibitions
Click “museums” to get access to their offerings
Smithsonian History and Culture
http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/History_and_Culture/
State Department: Outline of US History:
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/histryotln/index.htm
Presidents
 Public Papers of the Presidents
GPO Access (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/pubpapers/index.html)
includes Presidents George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W.
Bush.
 University of Michigan
(http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/federal.html) includes Presidents
Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy,
Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and
Clinton.
 Presidential Libraries: http://www.archives.gov/presidentiallibraries/index.html
 Images of Presidents/First Spouses:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/odmdhtml/preshome.html
 Outside source:
http://www.millercenter.virginia.edu/academic/americanpresident/
Military History
 See handout
 Exercise: Using NARA Resources
Civil War: http://www.archives.gov/research/civil-war/index.html
Find a photograph of Major General
Joseph Hooker in the Civil War.
Fort Sumter, SC
under Confederate
flag, 1961
Early Am. History, Westward
Expansion, Immigration
These pages offer plenty of government links on these topics.
WebJunction page on Early American History:
http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=19160
WebJunction page on sources for Westward Expansion:
http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15356
Webjunction page on sources for Immigration History:
http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15361
Census - Population
Historical Census Browser – University of Virginia Library
http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/
Census 1790-1960 and related topics (literacy, slavery, etc.)
– can also map your findings!
Exercise
How many persons of Italian origin does the 1900 census
show in the US, and what was the most populous state?
What other states showed a strong presence?
Native American History
Smithsonian – American Indian History and Culture
http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/History_and_Culture/AmericanInd
ian_History.htm
Information based on exhibits from various musuems and online
exhibits
Scroll down page, as well as examine left menu for topics
Bureau of Indian Affairs – scroll to Cultural Web Site/Links
http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html
Wissham woman, c. 1909
Just for Fun History
America’s Story from America’s Library:
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi
What in the World is That? Ingenious Inventions Throughout
History, From Library of Congress
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/science/learn_more.html
US Mint Kids Page – Coin News section
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/coinNews/
Genealogy
 One great place! National Archives
 Finding Guides from NARA
http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/
See: “What You Can Do On This Web Site”
“What You Can Find Online” (on above pg)
“Starting Your Genealogy Research”
Also use Census (databases, web)
Wrap Up
• History/Genealogy Module on WebJunction
http://www.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=14637
• Contact closest Depository Library – Directory of New Mexico
Depository Libraries:
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http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&
id=138&Itemid=402
Libraries with depositories include:
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New Mexico State Library - Regional
New Mexico State University
Farmington Public Library
New Mexico Junior College
University of New Mexico - Regional
Highlands University
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Eastern New Mexico University
Western New Mexico University
Supreme Court Law Library and UNM Law Library
• Laurie Canepa – laurie.canepa@state.nm.us