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Our Gift For Readers: A Little Holiday Research

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By SHARON TATE MOODY Tribune correspondent

Published: December 2, 2007

In this season of holiday gift lists, it's time for the traditional column about what to buy the genealogist in your family or circle of friends. Here is my list of recommendations:

Portable scanner: This is a critical tool when visiting relatives who won't part with their old family photos but will let you scan them into your computer under their watchful eyes. Having a scanner also comes in handy in libraries and keeps you from having to drop a quarter for every page you need to copy.

The Canon CanoScan LiDE 90 flatbed scanner is my choice. At a mere 3 1/2 pounds, it easily fits into a laptop computer case for travel. I found this product ranging from $69 to $99. Purchase it online or at most office supply stores such as Office Depot and Staples.

Laptop computer: Prices have become quite reasonable, and a good, basic laptop can be purchased for $550. Having a laptop simplifies note-taking and record-keeping when visiting libraries, research centers, aunts, uncles and cousins. You'll be the most popular Santa with this gift.

Digital camera: You can spend between $100 and $1,000-plus, but you'll rival the laptop Santa in popularity. Some archival facilities don't allow their materials to be scanned or photocopied, but they do allow digital cameras without flashes. Also, they are handy at family reunions and other events.

DNA test: Prices range from $125 to $1,000, depending on the kind of test ordered. If you want to learn more about what is available, try Family Tree DNA (www.familytree dna.com/products.html), World Families DNA (world families.net/findtherighttest.html) or Ancestry DNA ( www.dna.ancestry.com/ welcome.aspx).

Office supplies: These are always welcome gifts and can be as inexpensive as your purse needs them to be. Look for vinyl-coated paper clips, acid-free folders, printer paper, computer flash drives, pencils, etc.

Books: No genealogist can get enough. But if the historian in your family hasn't been dropping any specific hints, give a gift certificate to one of the chain bookstores such as Borders or Barnes & Noble. The store can order a book if it's not on the shelf. Again, you can customize this gift to fit your budget.

Society membership: Pay the membership dues for your genealogist to join a local genealogical society or the National Genealogical Society ( www.ngsgenealogy.org/member.cfm). Prices range from $15 to $75.

Registration fees: Send the family historian to one of the major national genealogy conferences. Look for details about 2008 programs at www .ngsgenealogy.org/Annual Conference.cfm for the National Genealogical Society or www.fgsconference.org/ index.php for the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Early registrations usually run about $200.

Jewish Society Meeting

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Tampa Bay will meet Dec. 9 at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, 14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater. A social with refreshments and library access begins at 1:30 p.m., and the featured program follows at 2.

Larry Domnitch will discuss his book, "The Cantonists: The Jewish Children's Army of the Tsar" (Devora Publishing, $16.95). The book depicts, through personal accounts, a tragic and significant era in history when thousands of Jewish children - some as young as 12 - were forced by Czar Nicholas to serve in the Russian army for 25 years.

Domnitch is a professor of Jewish History at Touro College South in Miami Beach. He is also the author of "The Jewish Holidays: A Journey Through History" (Jason Aronson, $30) and writes extensively for newspapers and journals in the United States and Israel. He lives with his wife and four children in Boca Raton.

For information on the society or directions to the meeting, call Sally Israel at (727) 343-1652.

The George Bushong Story

Damon Hostetler, a popular Bay area lecturer and family historian, will speak at this month's meeting of the South Bay Genealogical Society on Dec.18 at the SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin.

Hostetler will dress in character and tell the story of his ancestor George Bushong. Cost of the lecture is $12. The fee includes lunch, which will be served at noon and followed by the lecture at 1. Reservations must be received by Dec. 11 at P.O. Box 5202, Sun City Center FL 33571.

For information, call Rose Huggard at (813) 633-0868. For society details, go to www.rootsweb.com/~flsbgs.

UDC Meeting

The next meeting of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Chapter 113, will be at 10:45 a.m. Saturday in the University of Tampa lobby.

After a business meeting, the members will enjoy the Christmas Stroll at the Henry B. Plant Museum.

For information about the meeting or group membership, contact President Gail Crosby at (813) 839-8056.

Sharon Tate Moody is a certified genealogist by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Send your genealogy questions and event announcements to her in care of BayLife, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa FL 33606; or

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