When is the last time you checked a nearby county or city public library for the genealogy, history, and newspaper information and databases it offers? Some databases will be available from home and others require an in-person visit. Some helpful databases will be listed in the general section and not in a separate genealogy part. […]
The Minnesota Digital Library has many interesting sections. The Timelines section “Learn about Minnesota history using the Minnesota Digital Library’s interactive timelines. Each timeline features images, documents, maps, and more from key moments in the past. These primary and secondary sources come from MDL’s contributors from all over the state.” https://mndigital.org/projects/timelines Today I was reviewing […]
Friday, 15 August 2025, is when the GRIP 2026 courses will be announced. GRIP says “Lots to choose from! Courses will be virtual and in-person at the University of Pittsburgh. New and familiar instructors! AND…a few surprises.” Add these important dates to your calendar. 15 August 2025 is the course announcement 3 February 2026 Registration […]
I receive some notices of DNA testing sales in my email and see others on various social media sites. My most recent email notice: MyHeritage DNA on sale $29 price is good through 17 August 2025. This is a great opportunity for anyone who hasn’t tested yet to discover the power of DNA. MyHeritage offers […]
On July 23, I saw several posts on Facebook with photos of flooding around Minnesota including way up north in in the city of Ely which is about 16 miles from the Canadian border. Later in the day, while watching the local news, they mentioned that yesterday, July 23, was the anniversary of the sudden […]
As he signed an email to me four years ago, he was “Jim Hansen, Reference Librarian, happily retired, Wisconsin Historical Society.” I was first introduced to this librarian at the Wisconsin Historical Society back in 1982 or 1983 during my first-ever genealogy research trip. One of many trips from Saint Paul to work in the […]
If you were in any of my GRIP Genealogy Institute sessions a few week ago, you heard me talk about FamilySearch Full-Text Search. The FamilySearch blog has a great post from June 2d about using it. I have been extra excited in the way the FamilySearch Catalog points to the full-text search. If you haven’t […]
I’ve been a bit busy since the virtual week of GRIP Genealogy Institute ended on June 27th. A couple days off after teaching all week in two courses, work on some client research and reports, a gift of a Minnesota Twins baseball game for my birthday, celebrated the U.S Independence day with family, and then […]
Last week’s GRIP Genealogy Institute was a blast. I’m a bit caught up on sleep and lots of housework.I have been a course coordinator with GRIP since 2012. In 2024, I developed a companion course to the one that I had coordinated since 2012. It’s not a replacement course, but they complement each other. 2025 […]
20 June was yesterday and I neglected to tell about my paternal grandparents anniversary. Earl James Stuart and Olga Theodora (Toots) Carlsen were married 20 June 1916 at 751 E. Jessamine Avenue in Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. That was the home of Grandma Toots’ parents. The officiant was Squire T. Willis, pastor of the […]