Six weeks left to save on FGS Fort Wayne Conference

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences/Institutes, Federation of Genealogical Societies, FGS  Leave a comment

Just six weeks left to take advantage of the fantastic $50 savings on the 2013 Federation of Genealogical Societies conference registration. If you register for the FGS Fort Wayne conference no later than July 1st, you will save $50 off the full four-day registration price.  The savings on a single day registration is $20. The conference has things of interest for all levels of genealogical experience.

If you have already registered, please let your genealogy co-horts and fellow society members know about the savings deadline. Consider registering soon for workshops, luncheons, and special events. All of these are showing fantastic registration numbers and some may fill soon.

It’s easy to go back to the registration page of the conference website, log in, and add luncheons, special events, the Farewell Brunch, donate to the War of 1812 Preserve the Pensions Fund, or other items.

Check out the conference website at www.fgsconference.org

Minnesota records live on FamilySearch

Paula Stuart-Warren  FamilySearch, Minnesota  Leave a comment

Have you recently checked the Minnesota category of the Historical Record Collections at FamilySearch? It has 22 section of material related to the state. Add a lot more when you check out the U.S. census records. Many have digitized images, some are record abstracts, and some are indexes. Check out the list below (and many others) at https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1&countryId=18. Check back at least every month to see if more had been added. Once you are on the page, check the last column to see when each collection was last updated.

June 1: Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy registration opens.

Paula Stuart-Warren  Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, SLIG  Leave a comment

SLIG Registration Opens June 1
The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy is opening registration June 1, 2013 at 9:00 AM Mountain Time. So many great tracks for January 13-17, 2014!

Course 1
American Research and Records: Focus on Families
Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA

Course 2
New York Research
Karen Mauer Green, CG

Course 3
Research in the South
J. Mark Lowe, CG

Course 4
Scottish Research

Course 5
Advanced Research Tools: Land Records
Richard G. Sayre, CG and Pamela Boyer Sayre, CG, CGL

Course 6
Credentialing: Accreditation, Certification, or Both?
Apryl Cox, AG and Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL

Course 7
Producing a Quality Family Narrative
John Philip Colletta Ph.D., FUGA

Course 8
Researching in Eastern Europe
Kory Meyerink, AG

Course 9
Advanced Genealogical Methods
Thomas Jones Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

Course 10
Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum
Angela McGhie and Kimberly Powell

Course 11
Problem Solving
Judith Hansen, AG, MLS

Please visit the website for more information: www.slig.ugagenealogy.org
Email [email protected] with questions.

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

2.5 Million Criminal Records Now Available Online for the First Time
Findmypast.com Launches UK Criminal Records dating 1770-1934
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 20, 2013) – Findmypast.com, an international leader in online family history, today announced the largest collection of historical criminal records from England and Wales is being published online for the first time in association with the National Archives (U.K.).
More than 2.5 million records dating from 1770-1934 will be easily searchable and provide a wide variety of color, detail and fascinating social history, chronicling the fate of criminals ranging from fraudsters, counterfeiters, thieves and murderers and their victims.
With this new addition, findmypast.com World Subscribers will have access to mug shots, court documents, appeal letters, registers from the prison ‘hulk’ ships used when mainland prisons were overcrowded. The first 500,000 of criminal records are now available to search on findmypast.com, and the remainder is to be online
soon.


“We are delighted to launch these incredible records in the United States,” said D. Joshua Taylor, lead genealogist for findmypast.com. Our teams have worked to ensure the collection’s rich details are available online, including descriptions of appearance and demeanor, identifying marks and mug shots.”
“This set includes both the accusers and the accused, providing details on criminal acts and convictions within the United Kingdom across multiple centuries. Combined with our recently released British newspapers, this collection enables findmypast.com to provide a unique and personal glimpse at historical crime and punishment in the United Kingdom.”
Paul Carter, Principle Modern Domestic records specialist at The National Archives added, “These records span several government series and show the evolution of the criminal justice system in the nineteenth century as the country dealt with the impact of industrialization, urbanization and population growth.
“They record the intimate details of hundreds of thousands of people, beginning with judges’ recommendations for or against pardons, to petitions through which criminals and their families could offer mitigating circumstances and grounds for mercy, and later, licensees containing everything from previous convictions to the state of a prisoner’s health.”
The information in the records comes from a variety of Government departments including the Home Office, Prison Commission, Metropolitan Police, Central Criminal Court and the Admiralty. The records from 1817-1931 will be published first followed by the period 1770-1934 in the coming months.
This collection is available across all findmypast international sites.
Findmypast.com’s expertise at digitizing historical records and uniting communities provides the tools to help people connect with their past and present.
To learn more about findmypast.com or to get started on your own family history search:
·         Like findmypast on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/findmypastus
·         Follow findmypast on Twitter at https://twitter.com/findmypastus
·         Follow findmypast on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/findmypastus/

5 day Free access to military records on findmypast.com

Paula Stuart-Warren  findmypast.com, Military  Leave a comment

This great news about five days of free military records access was sent by findmypast.com

“In honor of Memorial Day on May 27, and in remembrance of all who died while serving our country, findmypast.com will offer its collection of U.S. and international military records for free in the days leading up to the national observance.

With more than 26 million U.S. and international military records available, findmypast.com is encouraging people to explore and learn about the heroic efforts of their ancestors this Memorial Day. Record sets such as ‘Draft Registration Cards,’ ‘Casualties Returned Alive,’ ‘POWs’ and others will offer a captivating glimpse into the lives and experiences of our veteran ancestors.

The US and International military records will be available free of charge starting at midnight EDT on Thursday, May 23 until midnight EDT on Monday, May 27. Anyone can access the records by registering for free at findmypast.com.” 

First-ever New York State Family History Conference September 20 and 21, 2013.

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences/Institutes, New York, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society  Leave a comment

This press release was received from the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. I am honored to be among the speakers at this inaugural event. I have some brief New York ancestral connections, have researched that state for clients, and a fun research project on a relative’s family has been all over the state.

NEW YORK, NY, March 19, 2013 — The Central New York Genealogical Society and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society are cosponsoring the first-ever statewide genealogical conference in New York.  The two-day conference will be held on September 20 and 21 at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center Liverpool, just outside Syracuse, New York.  Preconference research activities will be available on September 19.  Attendees will have an opportunity to advance their skills in researching

New York families and to build general skills through 20 lectures in two parallel tracks; two luncheons and a dinner, all with riveting speakers; and exhibits by vendors and societies. The Conference Program and exhibitor information may be found on the Conference website, www.NYSFHC.org.

New York State poses numerous challenges for even the most experienced family history researcher.  The New York State Family History Conference will break down research barriers and provide a forum that brings people together to share their research knowledge and problem-solving experiences and to collaborate on key research issues. Future conferences will be scheduled at regular intervals.The earlybird registration fee for the two-day Conference (excluding meals and printed syllabus) is $115 until July 1, after which it will be $140; members of the CNYGS or the NYG&B receive a $25 discount. Purchase tickets in the online store at www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org. 

Conference speakers include the top names in New York genealogy:  Blaine Bettinger, The Journal of Genetic Genealogy;  Ruth Carr, New York Public Library (retired);  Sachiko Clayton, New York Public Library;  Laura Murphy DeGrazia, CG, NYG&B Record; Stefani Evans, CG, National Genealogical Society; James D. Folts, New York State Archives;  Karen Mauer Green, CG, NYG&B Record;  Eric Grundset, Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution;  Terry Koch-Bostic, National Genealogical Society; Michael Leclerc, Mocavo; Joseph Lieby, Palatines to America German Genealogical Society;  Maira Liriano, New York Public Library;  Kathleen Roe, New York State Archives;  Paula Stuart-Warren, CG; and  D. Joshua Taylor, findmypast.com.

Sponsors of the conference include: findmypast.com, Mocavo, the National Genealogical Society, the New York Public Library, the Office of Cultural Education/New York State Education Department, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

For more information on the host organizations, please visit their websites:

Online Finding Aids from the Minnesota Historical Society

Paula Stuart-Warren  Minnesota Historical Society  Leave a comment

When is the last time you checked the wonderful online finding aids for many of the collections at the Minnesota Historical Society? Of course, there’s the library catalog, general descriptions of collections, and paragraphs describing various types of records, but have you seen the detailed inventories for others?

MHS has many in-house comprehensive finding aids but has been posting some on its website.

A few examples:

  • Thomas Scantlebury and Family: An Inventory of Their Papers
    U.S.-Dakota War reminiscences of a soldier in Company H of the Seventh Minnesota Infantry, accompanied by three diaries (1853-1857) and miscellaneous family information relating in part to the establishment of New Auburn (Sibley County), Minnesota.

Happy Birthday, Minnesota!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Hanley, Minnesota, Winona  Leave a comment

Why is it that some dates just stick in our minds? For me, one is the date of Minnesota statehood. On May 11, 1858 Minnesota became the 32nd state in the United States.

That’s 155 years ago. One of my great grandfathers, Michael Hanley, had already arrived in Minnesota Territory. He is on the 1857 census as a farmhand in Winona County. He later lived in the city of Winona. His brother is also listed but in a different household.

The annual history tour that I take with my three youngest grandchildren will include Winona this summer. The 11 year old asked to visit all the addresses where his ancestors resided. I will be doing just that at 478 Wilson Street in Winona. I will also tell them about the Hanley family.

Great genealogy events on my schedule and hopefully yours!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Alien records; Citizenship and Immigration, Conferences/Institutes, Federation of Genealogical Societies  Leave a comment

I am involved with several wonderful genealogy events that are taking place in the coming months. This means many registration deadlines. 

  •  May 14, 1:00 p.m., CDT, Friends of the National Archives – Southeast Region webinar. Join me from the comfort of your own home as I tell you about the wonderful things created by the WPA Historical Records Survey workers pre-WWII. You might be amazed at what they did for family historians. Register at www.friendsnas.org/webinarSch.htm
  • May 16, 7:00 p.m. St. Croix Valley Genealogical Society meeting at the public library in River Falls, Wisconsin. I will be presenting an interactive workshop on Research Planning. Pre-registration is not necessary. http://scvgs.wordpress.com/meetings/
  • June 7-9 is the 44th annual Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree plus the pre-event Family History and DNA day on June 6th. Last day for pre-registration is Friday, May 24th. I am attending the DNA day and taking part in six presentations at Jamboree. www.genealogyjamboree.org/
  •  July 21-26 is the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. Some courses are full but others do have a few spots left. I coordinate and teach in the “Intermediate Course: Tools for Digging Deeper” and teach in the “Bridging the 1780-1840 Gap: From New England to the Midwest.”Hurry! The Early Bird deadline is May 15th. www.gripitt.org
  • August 21-24, Federation of Genealogical Societies 2013 Conference in Fort Wayne Indiana. I am co-chair of this event and will be doing three presentations. Join a fantastic group of speakers and volunteers for a great week of genealogical learning, extended hours at The Genealogy Center of the library, some fun social activities, and networking galore plus a large Exhibit Hall. Early Bird deadline is July 1st. (save $50!) https://www.fgsconference.org/
     
  •  September 20-21, the first statewide New York Family History Conference sponsored by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. A great event near Syracuse, NY with many speakers, activities, and exhibits. www.nysfhc.org/index.html for details.

    “Five years later, Iowa still in need of state archivist”

    Paula Stuart-Warren  Archives  1 Comment

    My news feed had that headline to an article this morning. The article states “Recent data compiled by the Council of State Archivists, a national organization of state records executives, indicates that Iowa ranks near the bottom of the nation’s 50 states in its commitment to state records preservation. In fact, Iowa is the only state in the nation without a state archivist and no pending action to fill the nearly five year vacancy.”

    I have researched at the state archives location in Des Moines and found it to be challenging. Equipment, finding aids, and records were all a challenge. Until recently the website lacked much as far as cataloging and is still far from helpful to people wishing to delve deeper into the history of Iowa and its people. I am sure it’s frustrating to the remaining staff who struggle to keep up.

    Hopefully those with the power to affect change will learn that the news is spreading and will work toward a solution. A great archivist and staff make all types of historical research so much easier. When I talk about Midwestern Research or about repositories of the Midwest, it’s difficult to include Iowa as there isn’t much that can be used for screen shots. Children with school assignments, news reporters, authors, genealogists, military researchers, history buffs, as well as Iowa history itself, need a leader to bring the state archives in Iowa up to snuff.

    Thankfully, there are many records filmed by the Family History Library and that provides a lot of help. Many local level courthouses and genealogical societies offer more help. 

    Read the entire article in the Press-Citizen.con.com here.