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

            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.