Guide to using Archives

Paula Stuart-Warren  Archives  Leave a comment

The Society of American Archivists has a helpful online guide Using Archives: A Guide to Effective Research. It has many great tips for potential users. I have read most of it and felt like I was reading my own advice when I teach about the gems found in archives and special collections departments. It’s worth reading.

Several entries from the Table of Contents

Need a speaker for a seminar or other event?

Paula Stuart-Warren  Lectures, Schedule. Lectures  Leave a comment

I am updating my 2012 and 2013 speaking calendar and have some dates available that might fit with your organization’s needs. If you are looking for a speaker, just email me with the name and location of your organization and the date or dates you are thinking about. [email protected]. I have spoken at events of historical, genealogical, church, civic, fraternal, and other types of organizations. Occasionally I am available on short notice.

I will let you know if those dates are open on my speaking calendar and will send you my biographical and experience resume, an extensive list of the lectures I could present, capsule descriptions of the lectures, and the details on costs and arrangements. Once we have agreed on the date, I will send my standard contract so that we both know that the date is reserved for your group once that is signed and the advertising can begin. I am also willing to assist with publicizing your event. Some of my upcoming events are listed in the right-hand column of this blog. A few events do not get listed as they are not open to the general public. I am also willing to work with organizations that may want to hire me for more than one event and share the expenses.

When I am hired for an event, I am yours! That means I am available all that day to interact with your registrants. Whether it’s a one day or multi-day event, the people in attendance are an important part of the experience. I truly enjoy that interaction and find that it adds to the success of the event. I am also willing to have dinner with whatever group of area genealogists or your society’s board members on Friday and/or Saturday evening.

My presentations are delivered with a dash of humor where appropriate and with the passion about family history that I am known for. I aim to help the audience become focused, motivated, careful, and excited researchers. My presentations open up new research possibilities and further expand knowledge about what they may currently know. I work diligently to stay up-to-date and to make sure the lecture, visuals, and handout material are informative, clear, and most of all provide the steps needed to further research. My presentation visuals are done in PowerPoint.

John Bye retiring

Paula Stuart-Warren  Repositories  Leave a comment

It’s been a few years since I visited the The Institute for Regional Studies and University Archives at the North Dakota State University in Fargo. Researching there was always a pleasure. I just read that the Director, John Bye, has retired. John was helpful to me on my research visits, made suggestions, and was rightfully proud of the collection. Over the years I ran into John at history events.

At NDSU I researched distant cousins of my own and also worked on client requests. One outcome of the research there that included advice from John was the short history Helendale Farm and the James. B. Power Family that I co-authored in 1998. Helendale Farm was one of the renowned Bonanza farms in North Dakota.

Read more about John and see links to further info at http://library.ndsu.edu/archives/whats-new. I wish John a relaxing time in retirement. I know that somehow he will remain an active historian.

Association of Professional Genealogists Announces Election Results

Paula Stuart-Warren  Association of Professional Genealogists  Leave a comment

WESTMINSTER, Colo., November 9, 2011−The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG®) today announced election results for its 2012–2014 executive committee, as well as for nine regional directors and two new nominating committee members. Kenyatta D. Berry of Santa Monica, Calif. was elected president. Berry, a genealogist, entrepreneur and lawyer with more than 15 years of experience in genealogy research and writing, served as APG vice president during the last term. She will succeed Laura G. Prescott of Brookline, New Hampshire.

“I am honored to be elected and excited at the depth and breadth of experience represented by our incoming officers, board and committee members,” said Berry. “APG made great strides during the last administration,
growing to more than 2,400 members, adding new Chapters and expanding internationally. I look forward to continuing the important work of this organization.”

Kimberly D. Powell of Pennsylvania was elected APG vice president. Powell has been writing and blogging on genealogy for About.com since 2000. She is the author of several genealogy books and currently serves as a member on the APG board.

Janice S. Prater of Denver, Colo. will serve as secretary. Prater is the editor of the International Society of British Genealogy and Family History’s quarterly publication and is treasurer for the Colorado Chapter of APG. APG treasurer will be Joan Peake of West Virginia, a certified public accountant and the president of the Great Lakes Chapter of APG and the Fayette Ohio Genealogical Society.

APG members elected the following regional directors:

West region: Jean Wilcox Hibben, CG, is president of the Southern California Chapter of APG and the Corona (Calif.) Genealogical Society, secretary of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. Joan A. Hunter, MLS, CG, serves as Librarian General for the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and is a past president of the Oregon Chapter of APG.

Midwest region: Billie Stone Fogarty, M.Ed., fulltime genealogist and lecturer and president of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. Jay H. Fonkert, CG, is a fulltime genealogist, lecturer and writer and a founder of the Northland APG Chapter.

Southeast region: Alvie L. Davidson, CG, is a Florida-based private investigator and circuit court qualified expert, specializing in missing persons and genealogical applications of investigations. Michael Hait, CG, is a professional genealogy researcher, writer and lecturer who currently serves as vice president of the National Capital Area Chapter of APG.

Northeast region: Debra Braverman is a professional genealogist in New York City, specializing in due diligence for trust and estates matters, and 19th–21st century New York research. Michael Leclerc of Massachusetts is a genealogist who most recently served as director of special projects at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

International regions: Michael Goldstein of Israel, traces roots worldwide, specializing in family reunification, heir searches and Holocaust research.

Elected to one-year terms on the nominations committee are: Jana Sloan Broglin, CG, a director for the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and Debby Horton, professional genealogist and web designer.

November 12 FGS Radio Show

Paula Stuart-Warren  Federation of Genealogical Societies, FGS Radio  Leave a comment

Click here to create a reminder to listen to this Saturday’s FGS Radio show. The reminder will arrive in your email inbox.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mysociety/2011/11/12/genealogy-and-the-vital-records-access-crisis

Show time for Saturday, November 12, 2011
2-3pm Eastern US
1-2pm Central US
12-1pm Mountain US
11am-12pm Pacific US

Join us for the next episode of FGS Radio – My Society, an Internet radio show on Blog talk Radio presented by the Federation of Genealogical Societies.

This week’s episode hosted by Thomas MacEntee is entitled Genealogy and the Vital Records Access Crisis. Our guest will be Frederick E. Moss, FGS legal advisor and member of the Records Access and Preservation Committee, a joint committee of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, the National Genealogical Society, and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies. Fred will help us understand how access to vital records is currently being threatened and what you can do to ensure access for all genealogy and family history researchers. In addition, we’ll be highlighting FGS member society, Root Cellar – Sacramento Genealogical Society in our weekly Society Spotlight feature.

Guest
Frederick E. Moss, JD, LL.M. Fred Moss currently serves as advisor to the Board of Directors of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and was presented with the 2000 George E. Williams Award for significant contributions to FGS. He is a member of the Records Preservation and Access Committee, a joint effort of FGS, The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society. He often lectures on beginning genealogical research and society management issues at national conferences.

From 1990 until the summer of 1998 Mr. Moss served as Associate Dean, Dean of Students and Associate Professor of Law with Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. The Student Bar Association named a student leadership award in his honor. Prior to joining the law school faculty, Mr. Moss served for twenty-six years as a legal officer in the armed forces. His assignments took him to four continents where he served as the senior legal officer of an array of units and installations. He has lectured on a variety of topics at The George Washington University School of Law, the Clark School of Law at Brigham Young University, the Southern Methodist University, the Defense Systems Management College, the Industrial College of the National Defense University, and the Army Judge Advocate General’s School. Colonel Moss was awarded the Department of Defense Superior Service and the Legion of Merit medals.

He was the Editor-in-chief of the Mississippi Law Journal. He is the founding editor of the Proceedings of the Council of the Public Contract Law Section of the American Bar Association, the Section’s first on-line publication.

He also served as the Stake Family History Consultant and as volunteer librarian in the Plano Texas Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is the spouse of Lynell B. Moss, the former Director of that facility. He regularly conducts staff training in the use of technology in family history research for several area family history centers and gives presentations for other genealogical groups in North Texas.

Records Access and Preservation Committee: http://www.fgs.org/rpac/

Society Spotlight
This week’s FGS Member Society Spotlight features the Root Cellar – Sacramento Genealogical Society. ROOT CELLAR, was formed in 1978 when our members found a common interest in the gathering and sharing of genealogical information. Since that time, our goal has been to help our members with genealogical research through education, the publication of information, and the preservation of records. Everyone sharing an interest in genealogy is welcome. Our meetings also help to meet the needs of those researchers and genealogists who were unable to attend daytime meetings. The first meeting was held in June at the Fair Oaks Library.

Stan Gilliam of “The Sacramento Bee” coined the name ROOT CELLAR in his column, and with his permission, it became the official name of the organization. The name and insignia were registered with the California Office of the Secretary of State on August 6, 1979.

Root Cellar – Sacramento Genealogical Society:  http://www.rootcellar.org

Join Us Each Saturday Afternoon at FGS Radio —  My Society each week to learn more about genealogy societies and join in a discussion of the issues impacting the genealogical community.

Dispute in the ownership of a 1775 currency plate from New Hampshire

Paula Stuart-Warren  Memorabilia  1 Comment

I read an interesting story in yesterday’s [St. Paul] Pioneer Press about a Minnesota man, Gary Eldon Lea, who made a purchase at an estate sale in Fillmore County. “It was a 13-by-8-1/2-inch copper plate created in 1775 to print currency for pre-Revolutionary War New Hampshire.“

According to the story, he subsequently put the item in an auction but the New Hampshire state attorney general asked that it be removed from sale because “Once it is state property, it’s always state property, unless the state disposes of it properly in some way,”

The state found details about when the work was contracted for but not when the plate was disposed of. I know that governments don’t always keep every single piece of paper created. And in many cases, especially in early years, paper trails weren’t even created. Many newspaper stories over the years have told the stories
of items being found in dumpsters. Was there a paper trail at one time for this plate or was it simply discarded?

I am a firm believer in history being preserved and also in things being returned to owners if there is proof that it was taken under false pretenses. But then I am also aware of governments disposing of a whole lotta “stuff.” State historical societies and archives are also known to pay large amounts to obtain documents and artifacts. The amount of money they spend today to purchase a piece of sheet music that belonged to a famous musician or a desk on which a specific document was signed is staggering.

This situation is already the focus of lawsuits. It will be interesting to learn about the outcome. Mr. Lea’s attorney stated ““New Hampshire declared statehood in September 1776,” Lea’s attorney wrote in his brief to the appeals court. “Therefore, it is unknown whether the copper plate was ever the property of the state of New Hampshire.” The full story can be read here.

New website for The Newberry

Paula Stuart-Warren  Newberry Library  Leave a comment

The Newberry library debuted its new website look last week. It has a nice clean look and is filled with collection details, finding aids, catalog, visitor information, and much more. If you have never researched there, add it to your bucket list.

I have researched in manuscripts, photographs, maps, and books at Newberry. Their American Indian and railroad materials are superb. They cover far beyond the city and state where this private but very large library is located. A few years ago I was one of the lecturers during a day devoted to railroads. It was wonderful to
tell the audience about a great set of records that were in the very library where we were meeting. I have researched ancestors from the city and from other geographic areas on different trips to Newberry.

Walk a few blocks away and you have great restaurants and a bit further for a wonderful shopping experience.

If you don’t know about this fabulous library, are you wondering where it is located? It’s in Chicago. That’s one of my pet peeves with many websites of repositories and newspapers too. The location is a bit buried on the website. http://www.newberry.org/visit. A great picture of the Newberry’s main entrance is on that page. It’s a place to go for research just because of the building itself!

Newberry has a new Genealogy Blog. Bookmark this link so that you don’t have to search for the link on the website. http://www.newberry.org/genealogy-blog. Their News category will help keep you up-to-date on events and collection news.

Maybe someday the location of The Newberry will appear somewhere on the main page of their website.

Update! Yesterday, November 9th, I noticed that this has been added to the top of Newberry main page:  “Chicago’s Independent Research Library Since 1887.” In my mind, that completes the page.

This Saturday I’m in Kansas

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences, Seminars  Leave a comment

This Saturday, 22 October, I am privileged to be the seminar speaker for the Johnson County Kansas Genealogical Society’s annual event. It takes place at the Lenexa Community Center. I am looking forward to this all-day event. It’s a great opportunity for family historians in the greater Kansas City area to get together for some networking, too. I love networking with attendees, too.

The four lectures I will be presenting are:
•    Finding Ancestral Places of Origin
•    A Baker’s Dozen: Easy Ways to Begin Writing Your Family History
•    Tho They Were Poor, They May Have Been Rich in Records
•    Newspaper Research: Dailies, Weeklies and Beyond

For more details and location: http://www.johnsoncountykansasgenealogy.org/annual.html

Grabbing the knowledge in documents

Paula Stuart-Warren  Research  2 Comments

I was looking at some old document copies today. I can’t decipher all of the words as I carefully transcribe it into a nice typed document. I need to use some of my proven methods for figuring out what it says:

  • Put it way for a while
  • Try to read it away from your home or the library where you copied it
  • Give it to another genealogist to decipher (don’t tell them what you think it is)
  • Give it to a non-genealogist to decipher (don’t tell them what you think it is)
  • Yes, I have already compared the letter and word formation with others on that page and a few pages before and after

9 times out of 10 one of these methods works. When it doesn’t I tend to lecture myself that I should be able to figure this out. My youngest son can figure out what things say in a variety of languages so I should be able to read something in English, no matter the era!

    Budget Choices in Life and in Family History

    Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences/Institutes, Research trips  7 Comments

    I was just looking at my budget. My car will be paid for in December. Might I be able to finally get a new TV? No, I think I need to use that “extra” money to catch up on some other bills. After how lousy last winter was here, I really wish I could afford some vacation time in a warmer area in the first couple months of 2012. Budget says it’s not going to happen.

    And then there’s the food budget — I have been dreaming of lobster recently but that’s not a part of the grocery budget right now.

    It’s the same way in our family history research and education. I would like to order a whole bunch of birth and death records for members of the extended ancestral family. A genealogy cruise would be so nice. So would attending an institute that I am not teaching at. And then there are all the neat conferences. My bucket list includes onsite research in Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, and a long list of U.S. states. Choices have to be made.

    Think about that last paragraph as far as your own family history. We aren’t the only one who can’t attend everything. When we do attend, we might be sharing a room with 1-3 roommates to cut costs. We bring along
    granola bars for some meals.

    For our own continuing education we can’t forget programs put on at our home area historical and genealogical societies and even at public libraries. We can take part in online webinars and discussions. Yet, there’s still something that draws our hearts and minds to the bigger events like institutes, conferences, and to places like Washington DC, Fort Wayne, and Salt Lake City for research. It’s the camaraderie in those settings that draw me as well as the education.

    Just like a family saves for a vacation, that new TV, or to replace the ten year old vehicle, we need to have our genealogy savings fund. Maybe it’s a few less lunches or dinners out each month, or telling relatives that we don’t need another sweater, tie, or scarf but would appreciate a gift towards that conference, institute,or library visit. I have a jar into which I put all my loose change and then take that to the bank before trips.

    If you still have young children at home, maybe someone could give you a gift of taking care of them for a few days. I know many genealogists who care for elderly parents. Some respite care would be nice even if it’s only for some local area research time.Can’t get away this year or next? Education will still be there the year after that. When you can finally go to the event in 2012 or 2013 there will be others who can’t go in those years.

    Choices are not easy. Family history is not easy. But we need to work to make choices and preparation that help our family history knowledge and progress. Off my Thursday afternoon soapbox!