Another blue ribbon library

Maybe I'm easily impressed, but I spent the afternoon at the Hutchinson, Kansas public library looking up obituaries and found this to be a great place to research.  A pleasant staff and an awesome microfilm reader awaited me there.  The microfilm reader loaded and unloaded the microfilm.  I think it saved me an hour!  I was allowed to get my own microfilm and I like that.  The library staff offered to load and unload the microfilm along with getting it for me.  I don't mind doing it myself as long as they don't mind me doing it.  I had quite a list to look up.  I don't intend for this blog to turn into a library rating, but I just had to let you know what a great place the Hutch library is for research! 

$20? You have to be kidding!

I have learned to check local libraries to see what information is available.  For example, the post before this one about the Pueblo, Colorado library.   (They deserve a blue ribbon!)

I don't mind paying a fee for an obituary.  In fact, I have one on its way (I hope!) for a fee of $5.  Of course, I like it much better when the fee is a smaller amount or free.  :)

One California library doesn't look up obituaries and I can understand why, to a point.  The library has been kind enough to offer the services of a company who charges $20 per obituary.  Really?  The library has an index to their obituaries, but I cannot access it since I am not a library card holder from their library.  So, I get to pay $20 for a possible wild goose chase.  (I know the person died there, but I don't know if he/she has a published obituary.)  I will wait until I take a trip in the area to look that obituary up!  By then I will probably have a list of ones I would like to read.  This library gets no ribbons of any color from me.

Pueblo County-City Library, Pueblo Colorado

The above mentioned library is WONDERFUL!  I visited there last week and everyone was helpful and kind.  The best part was when the librarian showed me a link on their website for obituaries.  I wish every library would do this! 

They indexed the obituaries for their local paper, Pueblo Chieftain, and made that index available to the public via their website.  They will send you a copy of the obituary from the link on the index!  Free via email! 

Here is a link their website.
http://www.pueblolibrary.org/
(Click on search and at the bottom is the link to the obituary index.)

Here is a link to the obituary search.
http://www.pueblolibrary.org/obituaries-search

Well done, Pueblo Library, well done!

WWI Gassing

I ran across a man (not related) who went into the Pacific Colony in the early 1900s.  He died in 1922 from epilepsy and psychosis.  He was married less than ten years earlier and had a small child when he died.  My heart was breaking for him.  Because he captured my interest, I did a little more research on him.  It turns out he was gassed in WWI.  With what is going on in Syria today, this haunts me even more. 

Insane, really?

I'm looking at a census records for Louisa.  She's an unemployed adult who cannot read nor write.  She is listed as insane.  The choices are deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic.  I wonder what the criteria was for being labeled insane in 1870.

Be creative!

I love the census records, however, they can be pretty #@$#& frustrating when I can't find who I'm looking for in them.  Today I was reminded of being creative with names when looking.  The name alluding me was Jurmann.  I can find the family in the 1910 and 1930 census.  Where are they in the 1920? 

It hit me. 

The last name sounds like German.

I tried German and there they are!  I hope that works for the 1940 census, too!

Joke?

Someone's idea of a joke? Bill and Darlene divorced in 1972. She died in 1983. He died in 1991. Their headstones are separate but in the same cemetery and next to each other. His has the word TOGETHER on it. Hers has AGAIN. Did Bill get the last laugh?