Scotland: Three public record keeping entities might merge

Paula Stuart-Warren  Scotland  Leave a comment

Three entities that are charged with keeping public records in Scotland are being asked to merge. This includes “the General Register Office for Scotland, National Archives of Scotland and Registers of Scotland.”

This is being suggested as a cost savings measure. “The General Registry Office is responsible for births, deaths and marriages as well as historic census data , making its ScotlandsPeople website an asset during the genealogy boom. The National Archives gather historical documents, while the Registers of Scotland compile property and other legal documents.”

Read the full story in today’s Herald Scotland online. It will be interesting to see if and how this comes to fruition. When I win the lottery (if I ever remember to purchase a ticket) you will find me researching on-site in Scotland and visiting all the places my frequent moving ancestors resided. Among the places my Stuart, Grant, Edwards, Allardyce, and other forebears lived are Strathdon, Arbroath, Farnell, Kinnell, Lunan, and Brechin.
Then the descendants arrived in New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and one branch backtracked to Vermont.

General Register Office: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/
National Archives of Scotland: http://www.nas.gov.uk/
Registers of Scotland: http://www.ros.gov.uk/

Association of Professional Genealogists has two new chapters

Paula Stuart-Warren  Association of Professional Genealogists  Leave a comment

This press release was received earlier today from APG. I am proud to say I am a charter member of the Northland Chapter.

“The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG®) announced today that its board has approved two new chapters for the organization. The Northland Chapter will serve members from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The board also approved the organization’s first virtual chapter, to be held in Second Life. Both chapters have commenced operations as of today.

“We welcome these new chapters and the support they will provide to our members,” said APG President Laura Prescott. “These chapters will benefit underserved geographies, both real and virtual. The board and executive committee discussed at length the implications of chartering a virtual chapter and felt that it would be an exciting and effective alternative for members who don’t have a local chapter or who cannot attend meetings in real life.”

Northland Chapter to Cover Much Ground
The Northland Chapter serves a broad region of northern states that are not currently served by an APG chapter. Chapter organizers, Sandy Mochal Thalmann, [email protected], and Jay Fonkert, CG, [email protected], have centered the operation in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
Virtual Chapter in Second Life Provides a New Outlet for Professional Collaboration
The Second Life APG Chapter meets in Second Life and is open to all members anywhere in the world with Internet access, who may use their Second Life avatar personas. The chapter plans to meet monthly to preview and critique presentations in progress, discuss research resources, and share ideas about professional business practices and standards. Tami Glatz, or Genie Weezles in Second Life, is the contact, [email protected].

Next stop: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Paula Stuart-Warren  Seminars  Leave a comment

On September 18th, 2010 I will be appearing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am doing a day-long Genealogy Workshop (9:30 – 4:00) for the Tulsa City-County Library’s Genealogy Center. The day is sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust. It will be held at the Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St., Tulsa, OK 74133, (918) 250-7307.

The four lectures I will be presenting are these that include examples for many states. Each lecture is accompanied by a four page handout filled with book, website, and database resources.

  • The WPA Era: What It Created for Genealogists
  • Genealogical Goldmine: The Records of Old Settlers Organizations
  • Organizing Your Genealogical Material
  • Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking

Click here for details on the day.

Family in Gates, New York?

Paula Stuart-Warren  New York  Leave a comment

If you ancestral roots are in the town of Gates in New York, which is near Rochester, you are in for a treat. The Gates Historical Society has just published abstracts of early records. The town was originally called Northampton.

“The Settlement of Western New York State With a Review of Early Records of the Town of Gates 1809–1837 is a transcription of a handwritten record of the minutes, finance reports and school district and town board meetings dating to April 4, 1809, when the town was still known as Northhampton. It also includes images from the original document, such as maps and diagrams of the early town of Gates

Read more about it in the Democrat and Chronicle online edition by clicking here.

Ancestry.com: Free immigation databases Labor Day weekend

Paula Stuart-Warren  Ancestry.com  Leave a comment

Ancestry.com provided this press release today. Check out the advertising in Times Square two postings below this one!

LIFE STORIES OF ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRANTS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT ANCESTRY.COM

More than 1,700 first-hand audio recordings now available for free online.

PROVO, Utah, September 1, 2010—Ancestry.com announced today it has launched a collection of more than 1,700 recorded oral histories from immigrants who arrived in the United States through Ellis Island. This is the first time this collection of poignant recordings has been available online. To celebrate the new addition, Ancestry.com is making its entire U.S. Immigration Collection free through Labor Day.

“As immigrants created new lives in the U.S., the stories of their homelands and their remarkable journeys to America were often lost,” said Christopher Tracy, senior vice president of global content for Ancestry.com.  “We are thrilled to offer people the opportunity to hear the voices of their ancestors sharing stories of their lives.”

Ellis Island was the gateway for millions of immigrants between 1892 and 1954. The oral histories were captured by the National Park Service starting in the 1970s, and contain uniquely inspiring first-hand accounts recalling the lives these immigrants left behind, their reasons for leaving and their incredible and often-trying journeys to America.  These recordings are housed at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and until now could be heard only by visitors to the Island itself. In addition to oral histories from immigrants, the collection also includes recordings from military personnel who were stationed on Ellis Island and former Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty workers.

“To our family it is important that we in the U.S. know the origin of the people who came to this country, settled here and made it what it is today. It makes us very proud to know that our mother was part of this,” said Yvonne Rumac, daughter of oral history participant Estelle Belford, who immigrated to the United States from Romania via Ellis Island in 1905.

Other Records Added to the Ancestry.com U.S. Immigration Collection:

The Ellis Island Oral Histories are the latest addition to Ancestry.com, which boasts the world’s largest online collection of U.S. immigration records. Comprised of more than 170 million records, the Ancestry.com U.S. Immigration Collection includes lists of passengers who immigrated by ship to America between 1820 and 1960, including those who came through Ellis Island; more than 7 million citizenship and naturalization records; border crossings, passport applications and more to help reconstruct our ancestors’ journeys and early lives in America.

Ancestry.com has also added nearly 2 million new U.S. naturalization record indexes, thanks to the many individuals who are part of the Ancestry.com World Archives Project –a community effort aimed at transcribing historical records. The indexes span 11 states (AK, CA, CT, HI, LA, ME, MT, NY, PA, TN, WA) and will provide Americans greater opportunity to learn more about their ancestors’ citizenship experience.

In addition, Ancestry.com has added nearly 2 million records documenting crew members on ships who arrived in the port of Boston. The records were added to an existing collection of over 3.8 million records from Boston Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1943.

To honor our nation’s immigrant heritage, Ancestry.com has opened up its entire U.S. Immigration Collection so that it can be searched free through Labor Day. The Ellis Island Oral History Collection will remain permanently free on Ancestry.com.

To begin exploring your family’s journey to America, visit www.ancestry.com/immigration.

UW River Falls — free classes and new archivist

Paula Stuart-Warren  Wisconsin  Leave a comment

Kathryn Otto is the new Archivist at the Area Research Center (ARC) and University Archives housed in the Chalmer Davee Library at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. A news story in the New Richmond [WI] News tells about the free classes she is inviting people to attend. These are for those interested in “learning about the archives, doing historical research, or seeking ancestors.” 

I got to know Kathie when she was Head of Reference at the Library and Archives of the Minnesota Historical Society. The folks across the border are lucky to have her. If you have family in the Wisconsin counties of Burnett, Polk, St. Croix, or Pierce be sure to schedule a research visit to the ARC. You may also find some connections to folks across the St. Croix River in Minnesota. It’s been a while since I have researched there, but it is a great place to do so. Click here for more details.

300,000 Alien Files Find New Home at National Archives

Paula Stuart-Warren  National Archives  Leave a comment

This press release was just received from the U.S. National Archives:

September 1, 2010

Alien Files Find New Home at National Archives

Kansas City, (MO)… For the first time, more than 300,000 case files on alien residents of the United States who were born 1909 and prior are now open to the public at the National Archives at Kansas City.  These files, known as “Alien Files” (commonly referred to as “A-Files”) were transferred to the National Archives from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and are only a small part of the millions of case files that will eventually be transferred and opened to the public.

“The A-files are a key to unlocking the fascinating stories of millions of people who traveled to the United States in search of opportunity, including my own grandfather” said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero.   “They include information such as photographs, personal correspondence, birth certificates, health records, interview transcripts, visas, applications and other information on all non-naturalized alien residents,
both legal and illegal. The snapshot of American life that develops from each file can, in some cases, serve as a one-stop-shopping for researchers.”

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), the predecessor agency of USCIS, began issuing aliens Alien Registration numbers in 1940, and on April 1, 1944, began using this number to create the A-Files. A-Files document the famous, the infamous, the anonymous and the well-known, and are an historical and genealogical goldmine.  These files contain an abundance of relatively modern immigration documents in one file, making them a rich source of biographical information.

A-Files are eligible for transfer to the National Archives when 100 years have passed since the birth date of the subject of a file.  These transfers to the National Archives ensure that these records will be saved and made available to the public.  The National Archives at Kansas City will maintain A-Files from all USCIS district offices except San Francisco, Honolulu, Reno, and Guam.  These files will be housed at the National Archives at San Francisco because of the significant research use of related immigration files there.  Files to be housed at the National Archives at San Francisco are currently being prepared for transfer.

A-Files may be viewed in person by appointment at the National Archives at Kansas City or copies of files may be ordered for a fee.  For additional information on requesting A-Files, visit
http://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/aliens/a-files-kansas-city.html.

The National Archives at Kansas City is one of 13 facilities nationwide where the public has access to Federal archival records.  It is home to more than 50,000 cubic feet of historical records dating from the 1820s to the 1990s created or received by nearly 100 Federal agencies. Serving the Central Plains Region, the archives holds records from the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

The facility is located at 400 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108.  The National Archives at Kansas City is open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. for exhibits viewing and Tuesday-Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for research.

Family Tree Maker 2011 is now available

Paula Stuart-Warren  Ancestry.com, Family Tree Maker  Leave a comment

This press release just arrived from Ancestry.com.

NEW ANCESTRY.COM FAMILY TREE MAKER 2011 INTRODUCES MORE THAN 100 ENHANCEMENTS TO SOFTWARE

No. 1 Selling Family Tree Software Offers Simplicity and Depth for Recording Family Histories

PROVO, Utah, August 31, 2010 – Ancestry.com today announced the release of Ancestry.com Family Tree Maker® 2011, an improved version of the world’s No. 1 selling family history software.

For the last 20 years, Family Tree Maker has provided tools that make it easy to build family trees, record memories and organize family photos. Family Tree Maker also enables users to capture stories, and attach videos and audio clips in a way that will help them easily capture and share the story of their ancestors both
on-and offline.

“Family Tree Maker 2011 delivers significant improvements on many fronts.  By incorporating changes recommended by a diverse base of novice and experienced family researchers, we have arrived at what we believe to be our best release yet,” said Eric Shoup, Senior Vice President of Product at Ancestry.com.
“With the recent surge in interest in family history, Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker have an important role to play in creating new family historians.”

Without leaving Family Tree Maker, users can search the robust collection of family history records on Ancestry.com and simply incorporate matching results directly into their tree. Family Tree Maker 2011 automatically searches Ancestry.com for historical documents about the individuals in the user’s family tree when connected to the Internet. Family Tree Maker 2011 comes with either a free trial or subscription to Ancestry.com.

Ancestry.com Family Tree Maker makes it easier than ever to discover your family story, preserve your legacy and share your unique heritage. Of the more than one hundred enhancements added to the software, the following are some of the new and improved features found in Family Tree Maker 2011:

  • Smart Stories™ – Ready to start on an ancestor’s story? The Smart Story editor makes it easy to drag and drop text and photos from your tree into story pages that will update automatically when you make changes to your tree.
  • More Complete and Relevant Timelines – Find and add more events to your ancestors’ lives. Add, edit and delete your own historical events and apply historical events by time and geography.
  • New and Improved Charts – Enjoy four new fan chart styles. Enhance charts with backgrounds, borders and embellishments. And use fonts you can change based on fact type.
  • Improved Integration with Ancestry.com – Ancestry.com has millions of members all over the world. Now you can find out if any of them are searching for your ancestors by viewing Member Connect activity on your home page, plus links to related message boards and new messages in your inbox. You’ll also enjoy faster uploading and downloading of your tree.
  • New Media Management Tools – Drag and drop, cut and paste, and even categorize multiple items at the same time. You’ll also find a new tool that will help you locate missing media files.
  • Enhanced Reports – Enhanced ancestor and descendant reports, added a surname report and allowed you to sort custom reports, plus you can now save and reuse report settings.

Family Tree Maker 2011 will include either a printed or electronic Companion Guide to help users quickly master the simple and even advanced tasks. The Companion Guide will come with easy-to-understand screenshots of the software.

Family Tree Maker 2011 is now available to purchase online at http://www.familytreemaker.com starting at $39.95. The program is also set to be released in select retail stores.

Internet access required for all Web integration.

About Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOM) is the world’s largest online family history resource, with more than one million paying subscribers. The company has digitized and put online more than 5 billion records over the past 13 years. Ancestry users have created over 18 million family trees containing nearly 1.8 billion profiles. Ancestry.com has local Web sites directed at nine countries, including its flagship Web site at www.ancestry.com.

Back from FGS Knoxville

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences/Institutes  Leave a comment

My week in Knoxville for the FGS Conference went by way too quickly. I wrote about its success a few days ago. When I return from a major genealogy conference or institute, I do a number of things in the first few days.

  • Get extra sleep
  • Laundry
  • Send thank-yous to the planners, volunteers, etc.
  • Pay bills
  • Review my lecture PowerPoint and syllabus materials to change things that didn’t work as well as I had hoped and to add new details I learned at the conference or from someone at the event.
  • File all the business cards, brochures, and fliers I collected. I do have a couple of business cards that do not contain my usual notation about the reason I was given the card!
  • Put away all the pins and ribbons I wore at the conference — they go directly into the stack for the next large event.
  • Enter my new book purchases into Library Thing
  • Begin to catch up on email
  • Begin to take care of notes I made, things I promised to send, and sometimes wonder what possessed me to say “yes” to some of those things. 
  • Wish I were back in the midst of the event excitement, education, and most of all the friendly atmosphere.