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Genealogical Research at Cornell

Along with the occasional sunny day, summer brings to Ithaca and Cornell an influx of family historians intent on using one of the region's most famous research collections, the Cornell University Library. They (you?) come with a wide variety of research skills, from beginners to hard-bitten veterans of many a battle with clerks of rural counties across the country.

They come with equally varied expectations. Some are happy to find the county history they couldn't find at their own public library. Others expect a full-fledged genealogical service, a name catalog of genealogical records and a staff genealogist. All find their way eventually to the Olin Library reference desk.

CUL is an amazing resource for any research project, and genealogical projects are no exception. Expectations, however, have to be tempered by the reality of the library's mission. Cornell--at least the part of it supporting Olin Library--is a private institution, and the library exists to support academic research.

Not that genealogical research can't be academic. Many researchers use census indexes, for example, for very academic enterprises in history, sociology, etc. But family history for its own sake is definitely a "recreational" use of the library. That's the reason the library does not have a separate "genealogy room" or a catalog of names indexing local collections.

Genealogists willing to work independently and spend a little time orienting themselves to the library will find a wealth of material for their research. The best way to do this is to read our updated guide: Guide to Genealogical Research at Cornell. It is full of information about Cornell resources related to genealogy and how to find them. Copies are free at the reference desk in Olin Library. The guide is organized by library department and cross-indexed by the kind of resource you might be looking for. This is a good place to begin and it will save a lot of time.

OUR WORLD WIDE WEB SITE: An expanded and enhanced version of the guide is available online as a world wide web site. There are also links from our reference division pages. We can get you started quickly and there are plenty of genealogical pages from all over the world to explore. (See this issue's Web Corner for some great sites.)

THE CATALOGS: The main key to library collections is the catalog. In fact, there are several catalogs and it's crucial to know exactly what each catalog contains. The most inclusive catalog is the online catalog, available as a choice from the blue or red menus on the public computers scattered throughout the library. The online catalog has records for all acquisitions from 1973 on, and many, but not all, manuscript and archival holdings. So this is where almost all research begins. We find many new users are reluctant to try the online catalog. It's really quite simple and the staff will be happy to get you started. On the other hand, don't forget to check the card catalog for material acquired before 1973.

WHERE'S THE CENSUS?: Genealogists who come to the reference desk and ask for "the census" can expect some confusing answers, at least initially. Ninety-eight percent of the "census" questions in an academic library concern the statistical reports produced after the decennial US Census. So the staff's initial response will be to direct you to the report series. Genealogists want to see the census schedules, the actual lists of names the enumerators took down when they went from house to house. Our guide to the microfilm collection of the US censuses of New York State is the "Reel Guide,' which is kept behind the reference desk. The "Reel Guide" will We also have name indexes to the US Census for New York State up to 1860. Most are in the microform guide area in reference; the 1860 index is on CD-ROM. Ask someone to show you. Cornell only has schedules for the US Census for New York State from 1790-1920. It does not have US Census schedules for any other state with a few exceptions. The library does not have any of the schedules from the New York State Census taken from 1825-1925.

NEW CENSUS CDS: Recently the reference department began purchasing census indexes and other genealogical material on CD-ROM. These popular CDs are easy to use. Find them in the CD-ROM drawer in Olin 105 with the call no. HA218. They can be loaded in the US Government Workstation in the internal CD-ROM right on the front of the computer. Ask for help if you have trouble locating or loading the disks.

THE MAP COLLECTION: Our Map Collection on the lower level of Olin Library is another goldmine for genealogical information. For example, we have land ownership atlases collected by the Library of Congress for counties all over the eastern United States, including a very complete set for NY. There's a new handout LC G&M Land Ownership Maps to consult. The Map Collection has many other resources that might help family historians. Visit or consult their brochure for more information or call ahead: 607 255-7557.

THE DIVISION OF RARE BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS: This division, located in the lower level of Kroch Library, houses the University Archives and the manuscript collection of papers families and individuals have donated to the university. There is a particularly strong collection of local records. Although anyone there can help, Nancy Dean is the division expert in local records. While she cannot do research for individuals she is happy to consult with anyone about using the resources of the division. A good approach is to call ahead and check on hours of service and to determine whether you need Nancy's help, and if she is available. The telephone number is 607 255-3530.

CUL has a wealth of genealogical information, but its resources and services are arranged for academic research. You'll make the best use of the collection if you spend a few minutes reading the Guide to Genealogical Research at Cornell or browsing our web site. The staff of all the public departments of the library are happy to help family historians with their research, but they have to balance their needs with the needs of other patrons. Be prepared to work independently and come to the staff with specific questions. We're looking forward to helping you at the desk.

Robert Kibbee
rk14@cornell.edu

Information Assistants
Support Staff Support Your Needs

Need help finding journal articles? Confused about keyword searching in the online catalog? Want to get started searching the world wide web? Trying to find a map or a government document? Perplexed by the card catalog? Just about any question is fair game for the information assistants in the Olin·Kroch·Uris Reference Services Division. Seven senior information assistants, who are hard-working, high level support staff, work twenty to thirty hours per week at the desks in Uris and Olin Libraries to provide a variety of services for library patrons. They can assist you in navigating through our ever increasing maze of electronic resources, in finding an address, or in tracking down an elusive eighteenth century publication. The information assistants can also help you with many procedures such as initiating an interlibrary borrowing request or making a purchase request. Some of the information assistants also work selected hours in the Map Collection, in addition to our two specialized map collection assistants.

If the information assistants cannot find what you need or if you are engaged in complex subject research, you might be referred to the reference librarians, who are members of the academic staff. If a librarian is not available at that particular time, you may wish to return at another time when they are scheduled at the service desk, or to make an appointment for a research consultation. We have also been experimenting this year with having librarians "on call" for the information staff during selected hours. While it may be a little unclear as to who is doing what for you when, don't worry! The information assistants and librarians work together as team members to provide you with the best service possible.

In addition to answering over forty thousand questions per year at the desks, the information assistants do a lot of work "behind the scenes," including searching and verifying over five thousand interlibrary borrowing requests. Some of the information assistants also have special responsibilities such as answering reference e-mail questions, supervising the student staff who produce instructional materials or maintaining our United Nations Documents collection.

Information assistants are available from early in the morning until late at night during the academic semester. In the summer, the hours of service are reduced to reflect the change in library building schedules.

Nancy Skipper
nss3@cornell.edu

Our Summer Instruction Program

Internet Workshops

The popular Olin·Kroch·Uris Internet Workshop series will be offered again this summer. For novice internet users, our introductory workshop will give participants the opportunity for hands-on practice with the world wide web. Our intermediate workshop will offer instruction in finding and using discussion lists, downloading software, and configuring Netscape for helper applications. We will also be offering workshops in using HTML to create your own Web page.

Summer Session Classes

While many of our regular students leave Ithaca for the summer, a new crop of summer session students must learn to use the Cornell University Library. For these students, we offer the same types of instruction programs available during the academic year. If you are teaching a class which includes an assignment that requires the use of the library, we would be pleased to provide an instructional session designed to facilitate the successful completion of this assignment. If you would like to set up an instruction session, contact Mary Ochs by e-mail, mao4@cornell.edu, or by phone at 255-7148.

Mary Ochs
mao4@cornell.edu

Web Corner
Timely Links

Stephen A. Wood's Genealogy Home Page is a guide to genealogical materials and services on the Internet, including information on other Internet guides, North American and world-wide genealogy resources, discussion lists, and genealogy software.

See also Getting Started With the World Wide Web, a collection of advice on pursuing genealogical research that is part of a Web site produced by Everton Publishers, a major publisher of genealogical databases and print materials. Everton also offers free trial online searches of two databases and the text of selected articles from their magazine, Everton's Genealogical Helper, from their home page.

Genealogy is alive and well on the Web.

Michael Engle
moe1@cornell.edu