I made the May list of top webinars for Legacy Family Tree Webinars

Geoff Rasmussen of Legacy Family Tree Webinars says “It’s one of my favorite days each month! The Top 10 List for May 2025 has been revealed – and YOU are on it!” My last live webinar was way back on April 11th and it still made the top views for April and May.

My topic was “Neglected Gold in Older Historical and Genealogical Periodicals.” It was accompanied by a multi-page syllabus that is still available to Legacy Family Tree Webinars subscribers. Visit https://familytreewebinars.com/speaker/paula-stuart-warren/ to learn from all the webinars I have done for Geoff and company and to see all those from other speakers.

If you don’t have a subscription to view the library of more than 2400 webinars from hundreds of excellent presenters, please consider joining via my affiliate link http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=1739

Here’s the full May list (Top 10 and beyond): https://familytreewebinars.com/top-10-genealogy-webinars-plus-the-1-rated-may-2025/

 

 

Update coming to the free newspapers on Chronicling America

Love the free newspapers on Chronicling America? News this week from the Library of Congress:

 

We’re Upgrading on August 4!

On August 4, 2025, users will automatically be sent from the legacy version of Chronicling America to a new version of Chronicling America with added features and tools. If at any point we are not successful, we will undo the URL redirects. After August 4, the URL chroniclingamerica.loc.gov will continue to be the home of the Chronicling America collection and will permanently redirect people to the new site.

We encourage you to begin using the new site. Please use the following resources to assist you with using the new site:

Please email Ask-A-Librarian if you encounter any issues.

Read more about this initiative on our migration page.

 

June 5-8 free access to Danish and Swedish records on MyHeritage

Do you read the blogs, newsletters, and social media posts of a variety of genealogical websites? If not, you are missing a lot of updates, new services, new databases, DNA sales, and more. The MyHeritage Blog is one that has has several new posts this week.

From June 5-8, 225 million Swedish records and 124.9 Danish records are free to access. “The Danish records include 31 collections with church books, censuses, newspapers, and more, covering vital events and everyday life since 1787; and the Swedish collections span from the 1600s onward, featuring household examination rolls, birth and death records, military lists, and more. Just last month, we added a collection of Swedish passenger lists documenting the names, birthplaces, residences, and destinations of Swedes who left the country between 1869 and 1951.” Read this and other blog posts at https://blog.myheritage.com/

 

 

June 2, 2017, and 18 years later still genealogy blogging

18 years of my own blog preceded by many previous years of blogging and other writing for the former Federation of Genealogical Societies. I am not a daily blogger. My client consultations and research and webinars pay the bills. I only have a couple affiliate connections where I received minor sums for promotion. Those posts are rare and are identified as affiliates. If I receive a book for review, I will note that it was sent for that purpose.

My blog posts cover a variety of topics and I appreciate my readers whether you subscribe or just check it often. I appreciate others who promote some of my blog posts on social media. Gail Dever, you are wonderful with your Genealogy à la carte and social media posts championing other bloggers.

Don’t forget to read what other bloggers write. General genealogy, specific locales, and particular record type blogs are useful. Some blogs are authored by staff members at historical societies, archives, and libraries.

If you ever see something incorrect in a post, let me know. Everyone can learn something new or different.

Thank you for my 18 years and here’s to many more.

 

 

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada

June already? One of my nephews turns 45 today. Two of my children have birthdays in the next couple of weeks. June is also a month for honoring some specific groups among us. Canada begins National Indigenous History Month and on June 21st honors National Indigenous Peoples Day. A large part of my genealogy and history research and teaching business is dedicated to indigenous individuals, families, and tribes. Especially along the U.S. and Canada border, that means research in both countries with many family connections. This press release tells more about why Canada celebrates this month.

“OTTAWA, ON, June 1, 2025 /CNW/ – Today, I join Canadians from across the nation in celebrating the beginning of National Indigenous History Month.

Our rich and diverse stories—and the resilience and wisdom they embody—have profoundly shaped this land and our national identity. I am encouraged to see more and more Canadians listening and learning from these powerful narratives.

Every day, we deepen our understanding of our national history and uncover new truths through the stories of Indigenous peoples, including Survivors of residential schools. Some of these stories contain unspeakable pain, loss of culture and of language, but also tremendous courage and determination.

Only by understanding the impacts of our history can we take meaningful steps toward reconciliation and build a more inclusive society for the future. History is being written every day, and with their incredible achievements and positive contributions, Indigenous peoples are writing new chapters that are shaping a vibrant and successful future we can be proud of.

On this month and every month, let us honour our past and embrace the history, knowledge and traditions of our First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

Mary Simon.”

 

 

A great week of virtual learning awaits genealogists of all levels but hurry to sign up

One month from now, you’ll be sitting in your most comfortable chair and reading through the fabulous syllabus that accompanied the virtual GRIP Genealogy Institute course “BEYOND Digging Deeper: Sources, Methods, and Practices.” It will be the day AFTER the course ends. But, only if you have registered and attended this online course! It’s not the same as the other GRIP course previously offered, Digging Deeper, because we are going BEYOND that. These courses operate separately and may be taken in any order.

Not registered yet? From June 22-27, Join me and Amy E. K. Arner, CG; Cyndi Ingle; Teresa S. McMillin, CG; Debbie Mieszala, CG; Kimberly T. Powell, AG; and Cari Taplin, CG, as we delve into additional essential record types and provide sessions showing the research process and effective use of tools. This course features hands-on creation of research questions, research plans, and research reports with our guidance. Application of the methodology learned will be put into practice throughout the week. Education, camaraderie, some laughs, networking, and eye-opening learning that can’t be beat! AND the sessions are recorded and available for 2 weeks afterward.

CHECK OUT THE DETAILS https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/courses/beyond-digging-deeper-sources-methods-and-practices/
 
 

23andMe DNA company to be sold and continue privacy policies

Today’s AP News (Associated Press) carried a report on the 23andMe DNA company. “Biotechnology company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is buying 23andMe for $256 million, two months after the genetic testing company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.”

Be sure to scroll down the page to read all parts of the article including this important paragraph. “Regeneron said Monday that it will comply with 23andMe’s privacy policies and applicable law, process all customer personal data in accordance with the consents, privacy policies and statements, terms of service, and notices currently in effect and have security controls in place designed to protect such data.”

https://apnews.com/article/regeneron-23andme-genetic-testing-bankruptcy-65490338bd5863231af6aa87ea426326

 

 

Upper Midwest family genealogy connections? Join us for a new institute, UMGI!

August 8-9, 2025. Two-day in-person Institute as part of the Minnesota Genealogical Society‘s education programs. The NEW Upper Midwest Genealogical Institute (UMGI)! Join us for this special institute and related activities held at the Midwest Genealogy Center in the Saint Paul suburb of Mendota Heights. Free parking, an extensive syllabus, comfortable classroom, and a pizza fest. Along with other knowledgeable presenters, I am presenting two sessions.

  • Finding and Using Manuscripts, Special Collections, and Repositories (All in the upper Midwest.)
  • .Upper Midwest Military Records (Interesting records before, during, and after military service.)

Full details https://mngs.org/upper-midwest-genealogy-institute.

 

 

 

U.S. National Archives free online genealogy presentations

Press release info from the U.S. National Archives. “This year’s #Genealogy Series begins TODAY, May 13! Join us for a series of five presentations, all free and available on YouTube, by experts on US National Archives staff. See the full list of times and topics: https://www.archives.gov/calendar/genealogy-series/2025.” Missed today’s? Catch up on these and past years on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=national+archives