Siggy, A VIP Froggy Written by: JRose10700@aol.com OK, so what does a frog have to do with genealogy searches? If he is named Siggy, quite a bit. Remember the frog that went a-wooing in the old folksong? Well, Siggy is a frog that goes a-rooting for sites that will help family tree climbers in their never-ending search for their ancestors. And you might say that Siggy goes a -wooing too, to help you find those sites. Siggy is the happy little critter adopted as a mascot by the United States Internet Genealogical Society (USIGS). For August, Siggy is beaming happily from the 1895 Atlas Project pages created by Pam Rietsch at http://www.ismi.net/lcmigw/1895.htm The Siggy committee chose her for its second award. For her "project is a labor of love" as she strives to put the entire 1895 Atlas on line. Rooters who go there will be able to find any town or community that existed in 1895. And not just if it existed, but a map of the site! The Atlas Project fulfilled all the requirements for the Siggy award, according to John Quigley, chairman of he Siggy committee. "It s free, it is online and it is for the benefit of the genealogical community as a whole." Thus the site well exemplifies the stated purpose of USIGS, for which it was organized in early summer. "A wonderful work," Quigley said. The Siggy logo will be displayed on Pam’s page and on that of the USGenWeb project which had the honor of winning the very first Siggy away in July. Siggy in all his glory will be found on the US Gen welcome page, at http://www.usgenweb.com/welcome/welcome/html. Several other sites have been named as Honorable Mention. These include the HendersonCounty,Ky, KyGenWeb page which has the 1850, 1860, 1880 and 1920 census records as well as death records form 1912-1922 on line; the Trigg County Kentucky KyGenWeb page which as the 1800, 1850 and 1920 census records, al cemetery records and other information; the Indiana InGenWeb page which has links to state-wide queries, bible records, surnames, biographies, obituaries and Civil War Project; the Original Muscatine County, Iowa, Genealogy home page and the Decatur County, Iowa, Genealogy home page. These sites may be accessed from the USIGS home page, http://www.usigs/org with links to Siggy Award. While there, incidentally, sign up for a look at The Signal, first newsletter of the organization, edited by DearMyrtle, AOL’s resident genealogist. All these projects qualify by virtue of making available original data for research. Several sites looked at were excellent, according to the selections committee, but did not cite sufficient sources where facts could be verified. Many others are in process of creation and may be found in the projhects registry page. Siggy is a snooty little critter, in that only those projects which have been judged worthy for the monthly award may sport his logo. All USIGS members, however, may use the official red white and blue ellipse on their home pages. Membership, incidentally, is free, and signups may be done at the home page. The committee is always searching the web looking for good Siggy sites, Quigley stressed. Anyone with ongoing projects is encouraged to encouraged with USIGS which will spread the word to searchers. Siggy was born from his acronym, "Accessing Free Records Online for Genealogy" Good luck in your quest, Yvonne USIGS Publicity Committee ****** Yvonne James-Henderson, Burke, VA My Home page: Daisy's Roots: http://www.rootsweb.com/~daisy/1daisy.htm alternate addresses: daisy@usroots.com or hen1@idt.net Listowner for these Family Discussion Lists: BALLEAU BRISBIN COOKSEY HITT HORN KENTON LAWSON LUCKY MORROW SWEET ZIMMERMAN Listowner for: The PRINCE WILLIAM, OLD FREDERICK, ROCKBRIDGE CO., VA and MASON CO., KY Discussion Lists