My Google News page just had this link to a press release from MarketWatch.com. Ancestry.com is poised to acquire Genline.se. This is a website for those researching Swedish ancestry.
As the article states, “Genline currently has more than 17,000 paying members with access to 26 million pages of digitized Swedish church records spanning more than 400 years from the 16th to the 20th century.”
Pat Oxley reports that both Federation of Genealogical Societies 2010 Conference hotels (Hilton and Holiday Inn) are now full.
Pat is working on adding additional hotels in the area. I will keep you posted here and on the FGS Conference News Blog.
The National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine has an interesting website. One section is devoted to the “History of Medicine.” You can browse the finding aids for manuscripts online, check the catalog, view digital images and learn about visiting the library in Bethesda, Maryland. I found the FAQ section quite helpful.
A finding aids entry looks like this:
Title: Zuriel and George Waterman Papers 1774-1817
Abstract: Daybooks, correspondence, ledgers and journals pertaining to medical practice, as well as memorandum books kept on board a privateer during the American Revolution.
The papers of John Shaw Billings include this description:
“. . . was in charge of the Library of the Surgeon General’s Office. Other items in the collection include genealogy information, diplomas and certificates, draft of History and literature of surgery, copies . . .” [I bolded the word genealogy.]
One set of digital images includes not only medical history of the 19th century, but lots of family history. It is part of “Physicians’ Lives in the Shenandoah Valley.”
“The Henkel Family Correspondence collection (MS C 291; 1.5 linear feet) consists of 828 letters and is largely the product of Caspar C. Henkel’s (1835-1908) life. . . Items dating before 1850 were written by ancestors of both Caspar and his wife, Margaretta . . . Caspar retained letters written to him while he was away at medical school and in the field during the Civil War. Upon returning home from these extended absences, he apparently also collected several letters he himself had written to New Market. He also kept letters written to him from his two brothers during their medical training and afterwards when they lived and practiced away from New Market. Letters written to Margaretta from her sisters during the late 1860s and early 1870s are also included.”
Registration opened today, June 10th for the 2011 (January 10-14) edition of the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy!
Course I for 2011 is American Records and Research: Focusing on Localities. I coordinate and teach in this intermediate level course that covers 19th-21st century U.S. records and strategies with seventeen classroom hours that assist researchers in learning about and using varied sources and methods. It goes beyond basic research tools and can also serve as a refresher. Learn more about unusual records, county, state and federal records, manuscripts, finding aids, specialized indexes, case studies, and websites. Additionally, seven hours of one-on-one assistance and consultations at the Family History Library are provided by instructors. Course I participants get more hours than other courses for the same price!
This course alternates every other year with a second half of this course with resources related more directly to families and individuals. The instructors represent a wealth of knowledge and experience. This course helps you extend your research skills with suggested homework assignments to immediately apply the classroom information to research on your own families. Class work is in the morning on all five days, one afternoon, and with hands-on library assistance on three afternoons. There is ample time for open research in the afternoon and evening or for SLIG evening classes.
SLIG Course I instructors are: Paula Stuart-Warren, CG℠ (classes plus consultations); Karen Mauer Green (consultations), Michael J. Leclerc (class), Kory L. Meyerink, AG® (class), D. Joshua Taylor, MLS (classes), and Cath Madden Trindle, CG (classes plus consultations)
Prerequisites for this course:
Participants should have advanced beyond the “bare bones” beginner. We suggest rereading one or more basic genealogy guidebooks and being familiar with the Family History Library Catalog. (www.familysearch.org). It will help if you have taken a basic level genealogical class or two and attended at least one genealogical seminar or conference. Students should bring along some of their own family research materials including ancestor charts and family group sheets (either paper or on your computer) to use in immediately applying what they learn in class. There will be suggested homework to also help you put the learning to work and one group assignment that will necessitate some library research.
Scheduled class and instructor lineup (subject to some time tweaking):
Monday
8:00-9:00 SLIG Opening Breakfast & Announcements SLIG Staff
9:15-10:30 Intro & General Class Information; “Strategies and Organizational Tips & Tools
for Busy Researchers at the FHL and Elsewhere” presented by Paula Stuart-Warren
10:45-12:00 “Delving into County Courthouse and Town Hall Records” presented by Paula Stuart-Warren
2:00-4:30 Family History Lab: one-on-one help with consultants, Karen Mauer Green,
Paula Stuart-Warren, and Cath Madden Trindle
Tuesday
8:30-9:30 “Land Records: Digging Deeper Online and Off” presented by Cath Madden Trindle
9:45-10:45 “Building a House History from a Variety of Records” presented by Cath Madden Trindle
11:00-12:00 “Dissecting a Document: Getting from Point A to Point Z. Part I” (Group Exercise) moderated by Paula Stuart-Warren
2:00-4:30 FHL Lab: one-on-one help Stuart-Warren & Trindle
Wednesday
8:30-9:30 “Lawyers, Judges, and Trials: Using the Law in Genealogy” presented by D. Joshua Taylor
9:45-10:45 “Locality Resources: Using Maps, Gazetteers, Atlases and More” presented by Michael J. Leclerc
11:00-12:00 “The WPA Era: What It Created for Genealogists” presented by Paula Stuart-Warren
12:00-1:30 Opportunity to have lunch together as a class with discussion
1:30-2:30 “Records Related to Ancestral Arrivals in the United States” presented by Paula Stuart-Warren
2:45-3:45 “Greater Success through Source Citation” presented by Kory L. Meyerink
Thursday
8:30-9:30 Vanity Sketches: Sources and Truths Behind Mugbook Entries” presented by D. Joshua Taylor
9:45-10:45 “The U.S. National Archives: The Nation’s Attic” presented by Paula Stuart-Warren
11:00:12:00 “Finding Ancestral Places of Origin in U.S. Records” presented by Paula Stuart-Warren
2:00-4:00 FHL Lab: one-on-one help Stuart-Warren & Green
Friday
8:30-9:30 “Newspaper Research: The Dailies, Weeklies, and Beyond” presented by Paula Stuart-Warren
9:45-10:45 “Genealogical and Historical Periodicals In Print & Online” presented by Paula Stuart-Warren
11:00-12:00 “Dissecting a Document: Research Results and Recommendations
Part 2″ (Group Exercise) moderated by Paula Stuart-Warren
12:00-12:30 Wrap-up; Completion Certificate; Q&A Paula Stuart-Warren
Register online today for this or other courses: www.infouga.org
Do you remember that annual school writing assignment each September? I am challenging you with such an assignment. As you travel for genealogical education, research in libraries, courthouse, historical societies and archives, and to walk the streets where you ancestors lived, make notes for your paper to turn in. Of course I would be thrilled to post your assignment result here on my blog, but maybe one of the genealogical societies of which you are a member might like to publish your assignment in their blog, newsletter, or quarterly. It’s a great way to share experiences with each other. It might make a good presentation for a fall meeting of your society.
Tell others about topics such as these:
This Press Release just received from the Utah Genealogical Association. Visit www.infouga.org to see the list of classes.
Get in on the ground floor. Registration for the 2011 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy opens at 9 AM MST Thursday, June 10, 2010 online at www.infouga.org. Some of the country’s best genealogical educators are gathering to help you gain expertise in a flash with small class sizes and hands-on research. Whether you are a beginner or are looking for advanced skills, you can’t afford to miss this wonderful opportunity to learn from the experts. Register early as all class are expected to fill to capacity.
The 2011 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy will be held 10-14 Jan 2011 at the downtown Radisson Hotel located at 215 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Registration is $320 before 30 October 2010, thereafter $345. UGA members are eligible for a $40.00 discount. Registration includes course materials, an orientation breakfast and the Friday night banquet. Evening classes and additional dinner tickets are extra.
Courses for 2011 and the name of the coordinator include:
Breaking News from the Federation of Genealogical Societies. I am so excited about this as his schedule is so full but he is taking time to meet with genealogists. atch the FGS Conference News Blog for more breaking news in the next few weeks.
“FGS is pleased to announce that the Archivist of the United States, David Ferriero, will be speaking at our FGS Focus on Societies Luncheon on Wednesday, August 18th. If you have already registered you can still purchase a ticket — this luncheon is open to everyone! Mr. Ferriero will be speaking on the Citizen-Archivist and about the War of 1812 Digitization Project and will also have a question and answer period. We wish to thank Mr. Ransom Love, and the FamilySearch team for graciously welcoming the Archivist to speak in their place at this luncheon. To register for the conference and to add this luncheon click here.
Following the FGS Luncheon the Archivist will be joining Librarians Day to speak with the Librarians and Archivists who have gathered for that event. Spots in Librarians Day are filling very quickly. ProQuest, our Librarians Day sponsor, has graciously opened that event to a larger audience, but once these reservations are filled we will need to start a wait list. To register for the Wednesday Librarians Day and to see the program click here.
David S. Ferriero Biography
David S. Ferriero was sworn in as 10th Archivist of the United States on November 13, 2009. Previously, Mr. Ferriero served as the Andrew W. Mellon Director of the New York Public Libraries (NYPL). In this position he was part of the leadership team responsible for integrating the four research libraries and 87 branch libraries into one seamless service for users; and was was in charge of collection strategy; conservation; digital experience and strategy; reference and research services; and education, programming, and exhibitions.
Before joining the NYPL in 2004, Mr. Ferriero served in top positions at two of the nation’s major academic libraries, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA, and Duke University in Durham, NC.
Mr. Ferriero earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English literature from Northeastern University in Boston and a master’s degree from the Simmons College of Library and Information Science, also in Boston. He served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.”
Today’s Salt Lake Tribune carried a story titled “Preserving their voices: S.L. County hospice records patients’ stories.” This is such a neat project. Hospice volunteers were trained to interview the patients and their families. The surviving family members each receive a CD of the interviews. The article states. “The Memory Catcher program was inspired by University of Utah English professor Meg Brady, who initiated an audio history program for terminal patients at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.”
I hope this Memory Catcher at Silverado Hospice of Utah spreads to other places. I have heard of projects to preserve family memories of patients in regular nursing home, but not those in hospice care. Just think of how neat it will be for these family members to listen to the recorded stories. I imagine that the interviews also helped the patient and family members in other ways — including taking their minds off the inevitable end of life.
I have no idea why I began blogging on the first of June in 2007, but I am glad that I did. It has given me a place to talk about my own family and family history, tell about research discoveries, and share news about genealogical methodology, resources, and events. I am now working on a series dedicated to Minnesota research resources that are found online and other items in historical societies, archives, university libraries, and in courthouses.
Being a GeneaBlogger has enabled me to connect both online and in person with many others who blog about genealogy and family. I admire those who post more often than I do. Sometimes family and work just interfere with the writing for me and that is as it should be. I have a great time meeting other bloggers at seminars and conferences. Look for us — we are the ones with the ribbons that say GeneaBlogger.Another great part is that when I am presenting at these events, I have readers who introduce themselves to me. It’s all a way of keeping in contact with others who share the passion. Thank you for reading my blog.
Genealogy is both a passion and a business for me. As my Facebook page says “A professional genealogist who loves family history, both mine and that of others. It tells us who we are and where we have come from. I have researched and lectured in most states and in Canada. Yes, I am lucky to be in this field!” I have to admit that both blogging and being on Facebook has brought clients to me. Most of them have been consultations — helping folks who want advice so they can do their own research.
One person who keeps us Geneabloggers connected, creative, and on our toes is Thomas MacEntee. Thanks Thomas! And thanks to all the other bloggers who keep us informed.
State archives and historical societies as well as the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration house many older records of military service, bounty land awards, and pension records. These often hold a wealth of family details including birthplaces, marriage date and place, places of residence, and many other important pieces of information. In a future posting I will cover some of the wonderful military materials found at the Minnesota Historical Society.
In today’s Genealogy Gems (No. 75, May 31, 2010, Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana) Curt Witcher talks about preserving such records. Genealogy Gems is a free monthly ezine to which anyone may subscribe. Curt reminded us to “actively engage in preserving historical military records by contributing to preservation and publication efforts. Many local and state archives around the country are digitizing military records to make them more accessible to researchers. Are you able to support any of those initiatives where you live?”
He then tells about the effort to digitize the War of 1812 pension files. “The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has asked the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) to coordinate raising the funds necessary to digitize all the War of 1812 pension files. NARA indicates that the War of 1812 pension files are among the most requested record groups by researchers, with more than three thousand files being requested each year. The files are ready for immediate digital imaging. The task that remains before us is to raise the $3.7 million necessary to scan the more than 7.2 million images. That is certainly a formidable challenge. But what a worthy goal–to make this information freely available to historians, genealogists, military enthusiasts, students, and interested others. Digitizing more than seven million images is a tall order, but remember so was defending a new country struggling to ensure that its independent democracy would prevail. Visit the FGS “Preserve the Pensions!” website at www.FGS.org/1812 to learn more about the project, see sample pension files, and explore the many options for giving. Are you able to support this important activity?”
I serve with Curt on the Board of Directors of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and also encourage you to participate in this preservation effort. I have already contributed and hope you will, too. Don’t have War of 1812 ancestry? Neither do I, but feel it important to preserve these fantastic records. Stay tuned to this blog and the FGS Conference News Blog for details on a special event related to this effort. It will take place on Friday evening, 20 August, at the FGS Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee.