Wednesday, September 22, 2021
The Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel Disaster (Author Visit - Mary Jane Kuffner Hirt)
(Books Available for Sale, see below)
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
In-Person Only - Cranberry Public Library, 6:30 PM
(Local Interest, co-hosted by the Cranberry Public Library)
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
The Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel Disaster
On Christmas Eve 1917, an overcrowded, out-of-control streetcar exited the Mount Washington tunnel, crashing into pedestrians. Twenty-three were killed and more than eighty injured in the worst transit incident in Pittsburgh history. The crash scene on Carson Street was chaotic as physicians turned the railway offices into a makeshift hospital and bystanders frantically sought to remove the injured and strewn bodies from the wreckage. Most of the victims, many women and children, were from the close-knit neighborhoods of Knoxville, Beltzhoover and Mount Oliver. In the aftermath, public outrage over the tragedy led to criminal prosecution, civil suits and the bankruptcy of the Pittsburgh Railways Company, which operated the service.
Our presenter: Dr. Mary Jane Kuffner-Hirt is an author and genealogist and has published in Familia, the journal of the Ulster Genealogical and Historical Society, and presented at the 2017 FGS conference; and to an international migration studies conference in Northern Ireland. Now retired from teaching and management positions at IUP and city and state government, she is applying her research skills to historical and genealogical research.
THIS BOOK WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE BY THE AUTHOR!
Mary Jane Kuffner Hirt will be bringing copies of her book with her, and offering them for sale at $12.50 - they cost $21.99 in bookstores. If she runs out of copies, she will be glad to mail them to you for an additional $3 postage.
Our Meetings are always free and open to the public.
We hope to provide a good service to our local community. Zoom has allowed us to reach fellow genealogists across the country and even overseas. We are glad to welcome you to join us.
Members will receive a link to sign in to the Zoom meeting, and a reminder via e-mail. This is another great benefit of membership.
Guests who would like to attend can click the button below at the date &time of the meeting. You will be taken to the Zoom meeting directly. The button will be updated with the link to the Zoom meeting once we are closer to the date of the event.
The Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel Disaster
On Christmas Eve 1917, an overcrowded, out-of-control streetcar exited the Mount Washington tunnel, crashing into pedestrians. Twenty-three were killed and more than eighty injured in the worst transit incident in Pittsburgh history. The crash scene on Carson Street was chaotic as physicians turned the railway offices into a makeshift hospital and bystanders frantically sought to remove the injured and strewn bodies from the wreckage. Most of the victims, many women and children, were from the close-knit neighborhoods of Knoxville, Beltzhoover and Mount Oliver. In the aftermath, public outrage over the tragedy led to criminal prosecution, civil suits and the bankruptcy of the Pittsburgh Railways Company, which operated the service.
Our presenter: Dr. Mary Jane Kuffner-Hirt is an author and genealogist and has published in Familia, the journal of the Ulster Genealogical and Historical Society, and presented at the 2017 FGS conference; and to an international migration studies conference in Northern Ireland. Now retired from teaching and management positions at IUP and city and state government, she is applying her research skills to historical and genealogical research.
THIS BOOK WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE BY THE AUTHOR!
Mary Jane Kuffner Hirt will be bringing copies of her book with her, and offering them for sale at $12.50 - they cost $21.99 in bookstores. If she runs out of copies, she will be glad to mail them to you for an additional $3 postage.
Our Meetings are always free and open to the public.
We hope to provide a good service to our local community. Zoom has allowed us to reach fellow genealogists across the country and even overseas. We are glad to welcome you to join us.
Members will receive a link to sign in to the Zoom meeting, and a reminder via e-mail. This is another great benefit of membership.
Guests who would like to attend can click the button below at the date &time of the meeting. You will be taken to the Zoom meeting directly. The button will be updated with the link to the Zoom meeting once we are closer to the date of the event.
UPCOMING NEWS AND EVENTS!
Brick Walls and Bagels - socializing over coffee/breakfast at the Cranberry Twp. Panera Bread starting at 8:00 A.M. Join Patty Robison and your fellow members to share ideas and discuss genealogy! This event is open to everyone.
When? Saturday, September 4 at 8:00 AM
EXCITING NEWS! Gloria Mason, director of the Cranberry Twp. Family History Center, has announced that they will re-open with full access to the portal of free databases! Opening Wednesday, Sept. 8th from 9:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Stay tuned...there is a possibility for extended hours on Wednesdays! Gloria stated, "We are thrilled to invite our very good friends back from the Cranberry Genealogy Club!"
When? Saturday, September 4 at 8:00 AM
EXCITING NEWS! Gloria Mason, director of the Cranberry Twp. Family History Center, has announced that they will re-open with full access to the portal of free databases! Opening Wednesday, Sept. 8th from 9:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Stay tuned...there is a possibility for extended hours on Wednesdays! Gloria stated, "We are thrilled to invite our very good friends back from the Cranberry Genealogy Club!"
FUTURE MEETING PREVIEW:
Wednesday, October 27. 2021
Become a ‘Smart Searcher’ with Newspapers.com
Newspapers.com is the largest online newspaper archive consisting of 666 million+ pages of historical newspapers from 21,000+ newspapers from around the United States and beyond. Newspapers provide a unique view of the past and can help us understand and connect with the people, events and attitudes of an earlier time. It's a terrific tool for genealogists - if you are a "smart-searcher'. We'll explain how to efficiently search for the results you want.
Our presenter: Sue Ennis, our club president and newsletter editor, has enjoyed teaching genealogy virtually and in-person in Western Pennsylvania since retiring as a school librarian four years ago. Her specialties are research skills and methodology and writing and editing. Ennis has editorial credit on five published books and is a leader among genealogical educators with her organized, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic style.
Become a ‘Smart Searcher’ with Newspapers.com
Newspapers.com is the largest online newspaper archive consisting of 666 million+ pages of historical newspapers from 21,000+ newspapers from around the United States and beyond. Newspapers provide a unique view of the past and can help us understand and connect with the people, events and attitudes of an earlier time. It's a terrific tool for genealogists - if you are a "smart-searcher'. We'll explain how to efficiently search for the results you want.
Our presenter: Sue Ennis, our club president and newsletter editor, has enjoyed teaching genealogy virtually and in-person in Western Pennsylvania since retiring as a school librarian four years ago. Her specialties are research skills and methodology and writing and editing. Ennis has editorial credit on five published books and is a leader among genealogical educators with her organized, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic style.
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
The 1950 Census – Are You Ready?
Genealogy buffs are eagerly awaiting the release of the 1950 census on April 1, 2022. We’ll get up to speed on why this census is radically different from previous forms, what you can do now to prepare, finding aids, and volunteer indexing projects - including one with Cranberry Genealogy Club members.
Our presenter: Thomas MacEntee is a genealogy professional who’s also a blogger, educator, author, social media connector, marketer, network builder and more. He owns High-Definition Genealogy and freely shares many articles and videos at GenealogyBargains.com. Thomas presented our May program, focused on social media and genealogy research.
The 1950 Census – Are You Ready?
Genealogy buffs are eagerly awaiting the release of the 1950 census on April 1, 2022. We’ll get up to speed on why this census is radically different from previous forms, what you can do now to prepare, finding aids, and volunteer indexing projects - including one with Cranberry Genealogy Club members.
Our presenter: Thomas MacEntee is a genealogy professional who’s also a blogger, educator, author, social media connector, marketer, network builder and more. He owns High-Definition Genealogy and freely shares many articles and videos at GenealogyBargains.com. Thomas presented our May program, focused on social media and genealogy research.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Researching German Civil and Parish Records
If German record sets are puzzling to you, come to this meeting. The complexity of Germany’s history, and its effect on genealogical sources can be difficult obstacles for a family historian to overcome. The session will focus specifically on German civil records and parish records, with emphasis on how/where to locate the records and how to interpret the records. This ranges from using Family Search’s catalog to using German repositories like Archion.de to contacting local archives. Additional attention will be provided to historical geopolitics of what is today Germany, handwriting styles, as well as useful German reference materials. Lastly, the session also covers territorial regions formerly included in the German Empire (i.e. Alsace-Lorraine and eastern Prussian provinces).
Researching German Civil and Parish Records
If German record sets are puzzling to you, come to this meeting. The complexity of Germany’s history, and its effect on genealogical sources can be difficult obstacles for a family historian to overcome. The session will focus specifically on German civil records and parish records, with emphasis on how/where to locate the records and how to interpret the records. This ranges from using Family Search’s catalog to using German repositories like Archion.de to contacting local archives. Additional attention will be provided to historical geopolitics of what is today Germany, handwriting styles, as well as useful German reference materials. Lastly, the session also covers territorial regions formerly included in the German Empire (i.e. Alsace-Lorraine and eastern Prussian provinces).
Other Genealogy Events
Genea-Break: a members'-only event:
Genea-Break Discussion and Mini-Lesson - Genea-Break will resume once a month on the second Wednesday. Join your fellow members on Wednesday, October 13th at 7:00 P.M. using Zoom to learn, ask, and discuss genealogy and to celebrate your research success.
Butler Area Public Library
Family History Fridays
On-Demand Video Series
Available any time via our Youtube Page
From beginner Ancestry research tips to advanced topics like courthouse record indexes and mapping strategies, our Family History Fridays series is available to watch any time, anywhere.
Family History Fridays Playlist
https://www.butlerlibrary.info/genealogy
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Ancestry Library Edition is available from home until December 31, 2021. It has now been extended to the end of the year.
Go to the link for Genealogy Resources on the Library website, or use this link if you've used AncestryLibrary in the past: https://www.ancestrylibrary.com
Genea-Break Discussion and Mini-Lesson - Genea-Break will resume once a month on the second Wednesday. Join your fellow members on Wednesday, October 13th at 7:00 P.M. using Zoom to learn, ask, and discuss genealogy and to celebrate your research success.
- If you are a member, watch your inbox for the Zoom link.
- If you're not a member, go to our Membership page and join using the Online option, so your e-mail will be added to the members list in a timely manner.
Butler Area Public Library
Family History Fridays
On-Demand Video Series
Available any time via our Youtube Page
From beginner Ancestry research tips to advanced topics like courthouse record indexes and mapping strategies, our Family History Fridays series is available to watch any time, anywhere.
Family History Fridays Playlist
https://www.butlerlibrary.info/genealogy
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ancestry Library Edition is available from home until December 31, 2021. It has now been extended to the end of the year.
Go to the link for Genealogy Resources on the Library website, or use this link if you've used AncestryLibrary in the past: https://www.ancestrylibrary.com
Other Genealogy Groups:
Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society (WPGS)
Virtual meeting on Saturday, September 11th from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM EST.
Kristin Britanik will present, “Introducing the New WPGS Website."
In this month’s program, we will share the new and exciting changes to our website. We will show you how to find all of your favorite free and members-only content, as well as some tips for navigating our shop and learning more about Western Pennsylvania genealogy. We will also walk through a tutorial on managing your membership and updating your information and communication preferences.
Kristin Britanik, head of WPGS’ website committee will share information and take questions. For details, go to www.wpgs.org.
NORTH HILLS GENEALOGISTS
Next meeting is Monday, 20 September 2021 at 7:00 P.M.
Lisa Louise Cooke, a genealogist, lecturer, and podcaster, will join the NHG virtual meeting on Monday, 20 September to present “The Genealogist’s Google Search Methodology”. A speaker bio and details are listed on the NHG website along with a registration link for the June meeting here. Note that you must register for each NHG event separately.
Virtual meeting on Saturday, September 11th from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM EST.
Kristin Britanik will present, “Introducing the New WPGS Website."
In this month’s program, we will share the new and exciting changes to our website. We will show you how to find all of your favorite free and members-only content, as well as some tips for navigating our shop and learning more about Western Pennsylvania genealogy. We will also walk through a tutorial on managing your membership and updating your information and communication preferences.
Kristin Britanik, head of WPGS’ website committee will share information and take questions. For details, go to www.wpgs.org.
NORTH HILLS GENEALOGISTS
Next meeting is Monday, 20 September 2021 at 7:00 P.M.
Lisa Louise Cooke, a genealogist, lecturer, and podcaster, will join the NHG virtual meeting on Monday, 20 September to present “The Genealogist’s Google Search Methodology”. A speaker bio and details are listed on the NHG website along with a registration link for the June meeting here. Note that you must register for each NHG event separately.
About Us:
Our purpose is to assemble people who are interested in genealogy and in preserving family history, to provide educational and instructive programs, and to help others locate and contextualize genealogical information, to build their family tree. We are based in Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania. We meet the 4th Wednesday of the month, January through October, with special events scheduled for early November. Our meetings are free and open to the public, but membership is encouraged. The $10 annual dues allows us to obtain speakers and support this website, among other activities. Click on Schedule in the menu for information on current and future meetings.
President and Newsletter Editor: Susan Ennis
Secretary: Patricia Robison
Programs: Judi Boren
Membership: Pat Purifoy
Treasurer and Webmaster: Debbie Billeter
President and Newsletter Editor: Susan Ennis
Secretary: Patricia Robison
Programs: Judi Boren
Membership: Pat Purifoy
Treasurer and Webmaster: Debbie Billeter
Contact Us
If you have questions or would like more information, please e-mail us or send a letter. Our mailing address is:
Cranberry Genealogy Club
c/o Debbie Billeter, Treasurer
27 Sunset Court
Cranberry Twp, PA 16066
Feedback on this website can be directed to the same e-mail address shown below - let us know how we can improve this site. We try to give a lot of information on the main page, so nobody misses an announcement due to a missed mouse click.
Click here to e-mail us. If that doesn't work for you, copy this info@cranberrygenealogy.org into your e-mail "To:" field.
Last updated 20 September 2021
Cranberry Genealogy Club
c/o Debbie Billeter, Treasurer
27 Sunset Court
Cranberry Twp, PA 16066
Feedback on this website can be directed to the same e-mail address shown below - let us know how we can improve this site. We try to give a lot of information on the main page, so nobody misses an announcement due to a missed mouse click.
Click here to e-mail us. If that doesn't work for you, copy this info@cranberrygenealogy.org into your e-mail "To:" field.
Last updated 20 September 2021