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Breaking Genealogy NewsOne of our goals at the Connecticut Society of Genealogists is to keep our membership informed on matters relating to breaking news and Family History research, expecially when those matters have the potential to impact their ability to conduct research in the future. Each time you visit this Web site, we urge you to check this page for the latest updates.Memorial to Jacquelyn L. (Jackie) Ricker by Richard G. Tomlinson Jacquelyn Lee (Ladd) Ricker (CSG # 3387L) passed away on 30 March 2008 in Payson, Arizona. “Jackie” played a major role in building the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc., serving as Office Manager and Editor of the Connecticut Nutmegger from 1978 to 1990 and also Executive Secretary from 1981 to 1990. Jackie had a life-long interest in genealogy; and her fundamental approach was that it is, and ought to be, great fun. She began working as a volunteer in the CSG office in 1975 and soon became a member of the staff. She was named Assistant Editor of the Nutmegger in 1977 and Editor and Office Manager in 1978. When George Williams, the principal founder and Executive Secretary of the Society announced his retirement upon the 10th anniversary of the founding in 1978, he expressed confidence that he was leaving matters in the capable hands of Herbert Hotchkiss and Jacquelyn Ricker. However, with the sudden illness and untimely death of Herb in 1981, Jackie also took on the role of Executive Secretary. Jackie filled her multiple roles with skill; and all who had contact with her by phone, correspondence or at the Society’s meetings found her a warm and enthusiastic as well as a competent genealogist in her own right. She worked with enormous energy, including taking on “extra” projects such as preparing unpublished manuscripts for publication. Through her efforts, the Society was able to publish, Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut by Alvan Talcott, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut by Lucius Barnes Barbour and Families of Early Milford by Susan Woodruff Abbott. She was born on Sept. 25, 1935 in Elmira, NY and attended Upsala College in East Orange, NJ. She returned to Elmira and married David Thacher Ricker on 7 June 1958. They had two sons, David and Jonathan. Upon the retirement of her husband, David, an internationally recognized authority on steel construction, Jackie moved to Payson, Arizona. At a farewell luncheon given by CSG on 2 December 1990, she was honored with gifts both humorous and serious. Jackie continued her membership in CSG and was active with library and historical organizations in Arizona. Her husband, David, predeceased her by only a few weeks on 22 February 2008. The Connecticut Society of Genealogists is grateful to have benefited from Jackie’s ultimate gift of self. Memorial gifts may be sent in Mrs. Ricker’s honor to the Library of Friends, Payson Public Library, 328 N. McLane Rd., Payson, AZ 85541; Payson Humane Society, 812 S. McLane Rd, Payson, AZ 85541; RTA Hospice, 511 S. Mud Springs Rd., Payson, AZ 85541 and the Zane Grey Cabin Foundation, 201 N. McLane Rd., Payson, AZ 85541. ********************************************************************** IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL CT GENEALOGISTS MEMORANDUM TO: Connecticut Genealogists FROM: Elizabeth Frugale, State Registrar of Vital Records DATE: November 7, 2007 RE: Access to Vital Records We recently received important information from the Office of the Attorney General that affects genealogists' access to vital records. The issue derives from the provisions of federal law 42 U.S.C. §405(c)(2)(C).1 This law restricts the disclosure of social security numbers that are obtained by authorized persons pursuant to any provision of law, enacted on or after October 1, 1990. In Connecticut, the State is required to collect the parents' social security numbers for birth certificates pursuant to a law enacted on November 1, 1990. For marriages and deaths, the relevant law was enacted on July 1, 1997, and for civil unions, on October 1, 2005. For these records, the federal law restricts release of the social security numbers to anyone, except for child support enforcement purposes. The law contains no exception to release the social security numbers for genealogical purposes. Upon learning of this federal restriction regarding the release of social security numbers, we requested the advice of the Attorney General inquiring as to whether federal law 42 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(C)(viii)(I) could be reconciled with Connecticut General Statute § 7-51a that allows genealogists complete and direct access to most vital records, and thus access to the social security numbers listed on the records. The answer is that the two statutes cannot be reconciled - a registrar cannot comply with § 7-51a giving genealogists unfettered access to vital records and at the same time prohibit disclosure of the social security numbers. As in this case, when state and federal law conflict, the supremacy clause of the United States Constitution, U.S. Const., Art. VI, clause 2, requires that federal law preempt state law. 2 Therefore, based upon the legal advice of the Attorney General, we are required to restrict genealogists' access to the social security numbers listed on birth records from November 1, 1990 to present, and from marriage, civil union, and death records from July 1, 1997 to present. Note that although genealogists will no longer have direct access to birth records after November 1, 1990 and, marriage, civil union and death records after July 1, 1997, genealogists are entitled to directly access birth, marriage and death indexes for these years, and obtain certified copies of these records with the social security numbers redacted. In addition to limiting direct access to the aforementioned birth, marriage, civil union and death records, federal law 42 U.S.C. §405(c)(2)(C) creates another problem. How can the state and local registrars separate those records containing restricted social security numbers from the rest of the records that remain accessible to genealogists? At the State Vital Records Office, this can be accomplished by storing the microfilmed records containing the protected information in a secure area. However, at the local vital records offices - where vital records are stored in paper format - the problem is more complicated. The large volume of affected records requires a tremendous amount of storage space, yet at most of the local vital records offices, space is limited. In an effort to meet the federal requirements, while at the same time allowing genealogists as much access to vital records as possible, we are requiring all local registrars to submit a plan to our office by December 1, 2007, indicating how they will meet these two objectives. Prior to the implementation of the plan, however, some local offices may need to temporarily suspend genealogy research on site. It is our expectation that if a town does need to close its office to genealogists, it will be for a very brief period. Local registrars are giving this matter their immediate attention and will be submitting a plan to this office by December 1, 2007. If you are planning to visit a local vital records office to do research in the next few weeks, we suggest that you call ahead to ensure that you will be granted access. We regret the inconvenience, and will work to resolve this issue as quickly as possibly. In the meantime, please note that access to the vault at the State Vital Records remains accessible by appointment. To schedule an appointment, you may call (860) 509-7955. Richard C. Roberts Unit Head, History & Genealogy Connecticut State Library 231 Capitol Ave. Hartford, CT 06106-1537 (860) 757-6580 FAX (860) 757-6677 http://www.cslib.org/handg.htm ** Latest News ** Kate Wall, Town Clerk of Berlin, CSG member and former CSG Board Member, was selected by the Town Clerk's Association to be Town Clerk of the Year. Roger Kemp, Berlin's interim town manager is quoted as saying that "It's a real honor to the town to have our clerk selected for this." The New Haven Register quoted Kate about receiving the honor as "a really cool thing. It's great because it's something done by my peers." "The Connecticut Town Clerk's Association first started presenting the award in 1989," said Joseph Camposeo, Manchester's town clerk and the group's president. Camposeo is further quoted as saying, "It's a very prestigious award and Katie had a great deal of loyalty to the organization and the direction we're headed. She's just a terrific person and someone who really exemplifies the professionalism and continued learning that we're looking to promote among our members." Kate worked for five years as assistant town clerk under Camposeo, starting in 1998. She was town clerk in Wallingford from 1988 until 1996. ** New to our Website! ** We have added capability to search through our online holdings. It is a rudimentary search at the document level based on keywords and does not search the entire contents of a particular document. We have added podcasts of interviews conducted at the NERGC conference this past April. These can be accessed using the new search feature and the category "Podcasts". Return to CSG Home Page If you have special news or knowledge that may impact other researchers in and around Connecticut, please contact us so we can consider sharing this news with others. | ||||