Regular Meeting of East Texas Genealogical Society, Tyler, TX Saturday, January 10, 2004 Tyler Public Library - Taylor Auditorium 2:00 p.m. Speaker: Michael Vaughn Program: "From Polls & Tithables to Jacks & Jennets -- and Everything in Between: Hidden Genealogical Gems in Tax Records" The focus of the program will be first on methods and resources for finding available tax records, including a beginning bibliography for tax record research. The primary sources for tax records, both library and archival, will be discussed, and several search methods for finding those records will be illustrated. The last part of the program will turn to case studies showing how tax records can be used to move beyond genealogical brickwalls. One study will use tax rolls from Anderson County, Texas to determine an ancestor's death date when there are no other records. Another study, using tax records from Tattnall County, Georgia will demonstrate the use of tax records to prove parental and spousal relationships in the absence of wills or marriage licenses. Mike is a retired attorney who specialized in real estate transactions and commercial law matters. He has been actively involved in genealogical research since 1955. His family has lived in East Texas since 1834. In addition to being an ETGS board member, he is a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas and the Jamestown Society, as well as other lineage societies. He has published several books and received a first place writing award for family histories from the Texas State Genealogical Society. He has a well earned reputation as an outstanding speaker. Following a short refreshment period, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Computer Interest Group of the East Texas Genealogical Society will meet. Theresa Wentz will present a program on "Comparison of the Differences between Versions 10 and 11 of the Family Tree Maker program". Information on upcoming programs can be found at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~txetgs/meetings.html East Texas Genealogical Society represent six counties which are Anderson, Gregg, Henderson, Panola, Rusk and Smith counties. ETGS publishes the East Texas Family Records four times a year and a monthly newsletter The Bulletin. ETGS has began a First Families of East Texas covering our six counties. To find out about this program go to following link: http://www.rootsweb.com/~txetgs/firstfam.html . For more information, you may contact me at scottfitzgerald@tyler.net or go to: http://www.rootsweb.com/~txetgs/ Submitted by Scott Fitzgerald, President.