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genealogy:
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Time to Get Organized
By: Craig Smith / Exploring Your Roots
It’s time to make those New Years resolutions.
Organizing your genealogy research at the
beginning of the new year is a great idea to start
afresh and make your research more efficient.
Here are some tips to help you organize your
Create a Research
Plan:
1. Outline a research
plan for the year. Identify
specific goals and the
steps needed to achieve
them.
2. Break down larger
goals into manageable tasks to stay focused.
3. Prioritize your research objectives and focus on specific branches
or individuals.
Collaborate & Share:
1. Connect with other researchers or family members to share
information.
2. Collaborate on research projects and consider joining genealogy
forums or online communities.
Educate Yourself:
1. Stay updated on new genealogy research methods, tools, and
resources.
2. Attend genealogy conferences, webinars, or workshops to enhance
your skills.
Organize Physical Records:
1. If you have physical documents or photos, organize them in a
systematic way.
2. Consider digitizing important documents to ensure their
preservation.
The key to successful genealogy research is consistency and attention
to detail. By organizing your genealogy at the beginning of the year, you
set yourself up for a more productive and enjoyable research experience.
For those new to genealogy, consider joining a local genealogical
society. For example, the Clark County Nevada Genealogical Society,
in partnership with Henderson Libraries, offers numerous classes and
research opportunities.
In addition to monthly meetings with guest speakers on a variety of
topics, the Society is offering a “Beginning Genealogy” course on February
22, 2024 at the Paseo Verde Library. This class offers the beginning
researcher an opportunity to learn from experienced genealogists.
Paseo Verde Library also has the “Heritage Research Room” that
is dedicated to genealogy research. Many days of the week there are
volunteers available to assist you with your research.
Craig Smith is the President of the Clark County Nevada
Genealogical Society. The Society meets on the third Saturday of
each month at the Paseo Verde Library in Henderson. Craig can
be contacted at president@ccngs.org
January 2024
Prescott Offers Arizona
History Capsule
By: Kathy Manney / Around Our World
Beneath the expansive canopies of more than
100-year-old trees lies the Sharlot Hall Museum,
a history capsule museum of exhibits and former governor homes dating
to Arizona’s territorial days. The museum holds considerable amounts of
Prescott’s territorial history and additionally maintains the Museum of
Indigenous People.
Prescott became Arizona’s Territory capitol in 1864. One hundred
years later, when Barry Goldwater became the 1964 Republican nominee
for president, he launched his presidential campaign from the steps of
Prescott’s Yavapai County Courthouse.
The capital moved
from Prescott to Tucson
in 1867 and then
returned to Prescott in
1877, finally settling
on Phoenix as the
permanent capital
in 1889. The three
Arizona Territory
capitals reflect
political changes of
those territory regions
as they grew and
developed.
Prescott was a boisterous town, handing down a rich history. Many
times, the rough-and-ready wooden town burned to the ground.
Doc Holliday and Virgil Earp of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral once
lived here. Virgil Earp, a Prescott constable in 1878 and Doc Holliday
appears in the 1880 census records.
The Yavapai, who split from Patayan groups in about 1300 A.D., are
considered the original indigenous inhabits. The first recorded European
contact with the Yavapai was in 1583, when the Spanish came searching
for gold.
Permanent European presence started with gold discovery south of
Prescott in 1863 and soon gold was found in other nearby locations.
Settlers quickly arrived for the mining, often clashing with the indigenous
tribes. Their skirmishes caused neighboring Fort Whipple to struggle in
being territory peace keeper.
Prescott grew into northern Arizona’s most important city because
the areas mineral wealth was of such high-quality. The gold quality
also aided the escalating American Indian Wars, as settlers and natives
increasingly displayed aggression toward one another.
Present day Prescott is known for their self-proclaiming “World’s
Oldest Rodeo” having run continuously since 1888 and brings thousands
of rodeo fans as tourism augments the economy.
Kathy draws her articles from a diverse personal background. She
hopes readers enjoy her column as much as she enjoys the writing and
sharing.