Historical projects in Minnesota

Paula Stuart-Warren  Minnesoa Historical Society, Minnesota  Leave a comment

One way to find out about what historical projects are cropping up around Minnesota is by checking out the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants program that operates under the auspices of the Minnesota Historical Society. Grants are awarded for projects that will preserve and enhance Minnesota’s cultural and historical resources. Libraries, archives, churches, historical societies, ethnic organizations, universities, cities, and other groups have been the award recipients. Many of the projects have a direct impact on family history. Just a sampling of the grants in the last couple years:

  • Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans (Saint Paul) – To record, preserve and make available oral/visual histories of deaf, deaf/blind and
    hard of hearing Minnesotans, $64,100. 
  • Macalester College, DeWitt Wallace Library (Saint Paul) – To digitize and make accessible issues of the college’s student and community newspapers and catalogs, $10,888. 
  • Blue Earth County Historical Society (Mankato) – To add 140 rolls of microfilmed newspapers to broaden public accessibility to primary records, $3,837.
  • Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County (Moorhead) – To add 126 rolls of microfilmed church records, WPA files, and newspapers to broaden public accessibility to primary records, $6,618.
  • Minnesota Genealogical Society (South Saint Paul) – To add 100 rolls of microfilmed primary records to broaden public accessibility, $7,000
  • Friends of the Willmar Public Library (Willmar) – To broaden public access to primary historic records through a digital reader-printer and additional microfilm rolls to augment the current collection, $19,500. 

To see all the grants visit http://www.mnhs.org/legacy/grants/ and click on Funded Projects.

Ancestry in Kingman, Arizona (Mojave County)?

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

Genealogical research on families in this area is about to become easier. The county is digitizing 600 volumes of old records. The article quotes Microfilm Records Technician Stephanie Ciofalo, “As the article says “I love these old books,” Ciofalo said. “The handwriting was amazing in those days. This is Mohave County’s history. These records will be available to the public and much more accessible in digital format. That’s why we are doing this; to preserve the books and to allow ease of access for the public.”

People will be able to request information and the County Recorder’s Office will be able to access the material and print it out but there will be a charge for the copy. I wonder if they will allow the public to view the digitized material? Oftentimes we find valuable details by reading through a book of deeds or other court records.

Click here to read the article in the 3 October online Daily Miner.

Ancestral Journeys blog: David Suddarth

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  1 Comment

I am going to begin publicizing (as my schedule permits) some of the blogs and websites of my professional genealogist colleagues. This first one is from David Suddarth, a fellow member of the Northland Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists, whose blog is titled “Ancestral Journeys.”

David shared these words about his blog:

“My blog is mainly a family blog mainly concerning the names SUDDARTH, MONROE, MURRAY, LEDDY and RICE.  Although family specific, I try to use my own research to illustrate research methodolgy, different types of records and the ways in which they can be used.”

Visit his blog at: http://dwsuddarth.wordpress.com/

Researching Delaware family history?

Paula Stuart-Warren  Archives, Libraries, Research  Leave a comment

According to DoverPost.com (October 1st) The Delaware Public Archives has produced a series of twelve videos that provide info about the holdings and research at the Archives. Each video is two minutes long. Click here to view the videos.The topics include Visiting the Archives, Manuscript Genealogies, Vital Statistics, Tombstone Records, Photographs, and Orphans Court Records.

Thomas M. Summers, Manage of Outreach Services for the Archives, is the man you see in the videos. Also check out their Facebook page and blog. All of these along with the Delaware Public Archives website provide extensive details about their holdings and research.

Makes me wish I had some Delaware ancestry.

FGS Voice: A free montly newsletter

Paula Stuart-Warren  Federation of Genealogical Societies  Leave a comment

The Federation of Genealogical Societies has a monthly newsletter, FGS Voice, that is free to anyone. It’s a great way to keep up with general FGS news and with news from the FGS member societies. Please let your fellow genealogists, librarians, and others know about this great offer.

If your society is a member organization of FGS, be sure to send society news, activities, and events to the editor, Drew Smith, MLS at [email protected].

SUBSCRIBE TO THE VOICE: Send name and e-mail address to the FGS Voice editor at [email protected].

Update on databases at NARA locations

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment
This press release was just received from the U.S. National Archives and gives us yet another reason to visit a NARA location. I use many of these in background, historical, and genealogical research. If you have any handouts from my various lectures you will note that I often recommend several of these.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      
September 30, 2010
National Archives and Records Administration Makes Available U.S. Serial Set Digital Collection
Washington, DC… The National Archives and Records Administration will make available  the LexisNexis® U.S. Serial Set Digital Collection of US Government publications to the public free of charge in all NARA research rooms nationwide. 
The U.S. Serial Set is a collection of U.S. Government publications compiled under directive of the Congress. It contains comprehensive and often detailed information on an extremely wide range of subjects. Its earliest documents date from 1789 and additions are made continually.
The LexisNexis® U.S. Serial Set Digital Collection provides researchers—whether novice or advanced—fast, immediate access to this broad collection of historical congressional information.  This digital collection is powerfully indexed, easy to use, and lets researchers search across multiple other collections for more comprehensive results.  Researchers can access full-text, original documents from the pages of the original U.S. Serial Set. 
This Serial Set is the latest addition to the list of online commercial resources that NARA makes available free of charge to all researchers at its research facilities nationwide.  Other free online resources at NARA facilities include Ancestry.com, Footnote.com, JSTOR, ProQuest’s Research Library, HeritageQuest, Archive Finder, Digital National Security Archive, and digital New York Times and Washington Post, as well as EBSCO’s America: History and Life and Gale’s Biography and Genealogy Master Index and Declassified Documents Reference System.  Together, these resources provide free and open access to digitized NARA records as well as contextual information about NARA’s holdings.
For more information on these resources, see NARA’s Archives Library Information Center at http://www.archives.gov/research/alic/.  For information on NARA research centers nationwide see http://www.archives.gov/locations/archival-research.html.

Federation of Genealogical Societies seeks editor

Paula Stuart-Warren  Federation of Genealogical Societies  1 Comment

Can you imagine editing a popular genealogical publication for 25 years? And not just editing, but doing it well, convincing others to write for you, gathering a strong set of columnists, and so much more. Sandra Hargreaves Luebking has done just that for the Federation of Genealogical Societies. Sandra has announced her retirement. The upcoming winter issue of the FGS FORUM will be her last issue. I am not sure when I first subscribed but guess it has been close to 20 years ago. I have had the pleasure of reading the publication and also writing for Sandra. Both have been great experiences. If you would like to subscribe to the FGS Forum please visit www.fgs.org.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) today announces that it is accepting applications for the position of editor of its electronic quarterly magazine, the FGS FORUM.

The Federation is a non-profit organization founded in 1976 for the purpose of helping genealogical and historical societies and family associations strengthen and grow. The FGS FORUM is an important publication that supports the organization’s mission. The magazine is accessible in PDF format by individual subscribers and by two officers of each FGS member organization.

Requests for details about the editor position are available via email. Requests should be sent to [email protected]. Applicants may then submit a detailed résumé for consideration, along with several examples of publications for which they have been responsible as editor. These should be sent electronically to [email protected].

Submissions should be received no later than November 1, 2010.

Genealogy Seminar: Portland, Oregon

Paula Stuart-Warren  Lectures, Seminars  Leave a comment

If you live in the Portland, Oregon, area please come visit me on October 23rd, 2010. I will be presenting four lectures for the Genealogical Forum of Oregon at the Elks Lodge in Milwaukie, Oregon. I look forward to being in that beautiful area again and with the friendly members and friends of the GFO.

The lectures cover resources, finding aids, and methodology in many states.

  1. Research Rewards in County Courthouses and Town Hall Records
  2. Tho’ They Were Poor, They May Have Been Rich in Records
  3. Lord Preserve Us! Church Records for Family History Research
  4. Midwestern & Plains State Level Census Records 

Click here for the seminar details, directions, cost, and more on the day. 

FGS 2011 Conference Hotel: reservations now open

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

Starting today, you can book your room at the Springfield Hilton as you make plans to attend “Pathways to the Heartland” – the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2011 Annual Conference in Springfield, Illinois from September 7 – 10, 2011.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Springfield Hilton for September 5, 2011 – September 12, 2011. Reservations at the special room rate will be available until August 15, 2011 or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.

It takes time to finalize all program details, meal menus, special events and other aspects of these conferences. Gradually, details will be announced on the FGS Conference News Blog. The full details and day by day program will be on the FGS website in December. The 2011 local host is the Illinois State Genealogical Society.

Syllabus from Association of Professional Genealogists PMC is available

Paula Stuart-Warren  Association of Professional Genealogists  Leave a comment

UPDATE: it is sold out!

This press release was sent by APG:

The 13th Annual APG Professional Management Conference took place 17 August 2010, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The syllabus is now for sale (while supplies last) for $20 plus shipping. Go to http://www.apgen.org/catalog/products.html to order with your credit card.

Topics included:

  • From the Trenches: How We Manage Clients, Time, and Projects by Laura G. Prescott
  • A Key to Success: Your Online Presence by D. Joshua Taylor, MLS
  • Overcoming Obstacles that Interfere with Genealogical Research by Anne J. Miller, Ph.D.
  • Expand Your Revenue: Produce and Sell Your Lectures in Video Format by Donna M. Moughty
  • Niche Planning and Marketing by Paula Stuart-Warren, CG
  • Learning As You Go: Choosing the Best Continuing Education Opportunities by Elissa Scalise Powell, CG
  • Get Published in Magazines! by Leslie Albrecht Huber

            Kathleen W. Hinckley, CG
            APG Executive Director