Recording the life stories of hospice patients

Paula Stuart-Warren  Oral history  1 Comment

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.

Blog anniversary: 1 June 2007

Paula Stuart-Warren  Anniversary, Facebook, Geneabloggers  3 Comments

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.

Preserving the records related to military service.

Paula Stuart-Warren  Allen County Public Library, Genealogy Gems, Military, War of 1812  Leave a comment

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.

Memorial Day 2010

Paula Stuart-Warren  Memorial Day, Military  Leave a comment

I have failed in the education of at least one of my grandchildren. As my daughter and granddaughter were driving by a cemetery the five year old was amazed to see cars there. She told my daughter that she didn’t know you could visit in a graveyard. Yep, she used the term graveyard. My daughter is sure that word came from watching Scooby Doo!

I know I have taken her brothers to cemeteries, especially the oldest one who thought that the phrase “buried” in a cemetery was actually “married” in a cemetery. He was only about 4 at the time. The oldest granddaughter has been to cemeteries with me.

I am thankful for all those women and men who have served in the military whether in the U.S. or other countries. My husband served during the Vietnam era, my father and father-in-law served in WWII, uncles served in WWI, Great Great Grandfather William Slaker served in the Civil War, and a Great Granduncle served in the Civil and Spanish American wars and then was called to service again in World War I. They all returned home to their families. My maternal aunt lost her first husband during the Korean War.

My children and grandchildren also have paternal ancestors who served in the Revolutionary and Civil wars. I have not told my grandchildren nearly enough about these folks and their military service. It’s time they understood what their forebears did that made our freedom possible today. I think it is time to educate my grandchildren about Memorial Day. This posting is just the beginning.

St. Louis County, Missouri genealogy library expansion

Paula Stuart-Warren  Libraries  Leave a comment

Some wonderful news out of St. Louis County Library during this tough time for libraries, archives, and historical societies. A new genealogy center will be built in suburban Chesterfield, Missouri. A story in today’s St. Louis Business Journal says that “Plans call for a two-story facility of 63,000 square feet, which would allow expansion of the existing genealogy collection. The building is to include an auditorium and a family history museum.” The center is scheduled to open in 2010.

Online indexes at county historical societies in Minnesota

Paula Stuart-Warren  Historical Societies, Minnesota  2 Comments

County historical societies in Minnesota (and in other states) are treasure troves of material useful in our family history search. This is a sampling of some online indexes for several of the county societies in Minnesota. Some of these societies have other online indexes and information on how to obtain the actual record or publication the index references.

  • The History Center of Olmsted County subject index to Rochester newspapers 1859-1912: [This is one of my favorites because I found the birth notice for one of my maternal grandmother’s siblings.] http://www.olmstedhistory.info/apps/index.htm

For links to other county, city, town, and ethnic historical societies check the Minnesota Historical Society’s list of Minnesota Historical Organizations.

June 26th Duluth, Minnesota Genealogy Meeting

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences, Minnesota Genealogical Society  Leave a comment

Saturday, June 26th is a big day in Duluth, Minnesota. The Minnesota Genealogical Society and the Twin Ports Genealogical Society are hosting a day-long genealogy conference at the College of St. Scholastica. The day begins at 9:00 a.m and the program is set to end at 4:00 p.m. Check out the full details on the MGS website. The site has details on the speakers and topics. A variety of sessions are offered for only $25.00 for the day.

RIP Donald Whyte

Paula Stuart-Warren  Scotland  Leave a comment

I just learned that Donald Whyte passed away on 23 April 2010 in Scotland. When I began research on my Scottish Stuart ancestry I found many of his books. Yes, there was info on my family. Years later, I used his compilations to help clients, especially one whose Scottish ancestors immigrated to Canada.

I found my family in his Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to the USA (pre 1855) and corresponded with him about the source of the information. If you go to Worldcat.org and type in Donald Whyte you can see page after page of genealogical publications that he authored.

An extensive obituary for him can be found in the Scotsman.com under the date of 3 May 2010. The first paragraph states: “His fascination with family and Scottish history sparked a lifelong interest in his craft and left an extraordinary legacy for genealogists and those researching their family history worldwide.” Oh, do I ever agree with this.

I was astounded at all this man accomplished before the ravages of Parkinson’s Disease slowed him down. His contributions to genealogy in Scotland and throughout the world adds to my pride of my Scottish heritage.

Birdie Monk Holsclaw, CG

Paula Stuart-Warren  Birdie, Holsclaw  Leave a comment

Birdie Monk Holsclaw, CG. 1948 – 2010. We have lost another strong, determined, caring, sharing, and intelligent woman. Did you ever get to meet her? I met her because I volunteered to work a shift at an Association of Professional Genealogist’s booth at a conference about twenty years ago. We became friends and I never stopped adoring her wonderful mind. Her interests were beyond what any human being should be capable of. (She’d comment (very kindly, though) on my ending that sentence with a proposition!)

The picture above is Birdie with Karen Mauer Green in May of 2008. This afternoon Birdie’s memorial service is taking place in Colorado. I had hoped to be there but the plane fares prohibited that. I kept trying to finish this post about her but found it too difficult. Today is the day to honor her since I am unable to be there with her family, friends, and colleagues who are doing that together. 

Her love of genealogical research, volunteering in organizations, helping others, giving us instruction, and most of all her smile and excitement about everything is what she needs to be remembered for. Not cancer and not MS. Her mind was filled with her family, genealogy, technology, movies and many other things. We had many long talks about her son Will and my youngest son Pat who we decided were kindred spirits. For the last several years we roomed together (with Karen Mauer Green) each January in Salt Lake City. Talk about kindred spirits — we routinely talked into the early morning hours about everything under the sun. Birdie was an instructor in my intermediate course at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. The students were especially thrilled with her assistance during the one-on-one consultations.

The first issue of the Federation of Genealogical Society’s Delegate Digest was distributed in September 1993. The first editor was Birdie, who was a Delegate to FGS from Colorado. For her efforts, Birdie Monk Holsclaw became the first recipient of the Delegate Award, established in 1993 to honor the representatives from FGS member societies.

One project that was near and dear to Birdie was exploring the family histories of pupils at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind from 1874-1883. Her website devoted to this is wonderful. Click here to view it. If you are unable to access it, go to your search engine and type in the search terms and view the cached version. For some reason the site is down and the family is working to get it restored. This project was so dear to Birdie because her father had attended this school.

In 2003 I was unable to complete a volunteer job and called my fellow committee member, Birdie, and she listened to my story and immediately completed the job for me.

Birdie had the right husband (Russ) and son — all could techo speak.What a neat family. I actually met Birdie’s mother Arliss Monk, CG, before I met Birdie. I was fortunate to see Arliss at the recent NGS Conference in Salt Lake City and we had some time to talk about Birdie and hug.

A wonderful tribute to Birdie was written by Julie Miller, CG and you can read it here or here Julie really captures the person we know and love. In 2003 Bobbi King interviewed Birdie and you can read that here.

I will miss my friend and her smile. She taught me something and that is life doesn’t stop just because you have been handed some very rotten lemons. Joy. That is a word the fits her.

Public graduation gift to a Mom is truly for us all!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Huffington Post, Rodda, Scams  Leave a comment

Well, genealogical scams have hit the news again and thanks to the author of an article the news on this will be seen by many. The Huffington Post has an article by Chris Rodda about those mass marketed gifts that tell about “your” family’s name. Chris was providing her mother, a professional genealogist, a graduation gift by sharing the details of the scam publicly. Her mother, Anne Rodda, is now better known as Dr. Rhodda! I am also proud to say that Anne is a fellow certified genealogist.

Chris saw the commercial on the History Channel and says “Now they’ve sunk to a new low, airing ads for a company that peddles fraudulent history. So my graduation present to my mother, a real certified professional genealogist, is to expose the genealogical charlatan Michael Walshe, and the scam of his Historical Research Center’s so-called “research.” You can obtain a parchment scroll with “guaranteed authentic family name origin and meaning.”

Yeah, right. There have been several recreations of such “special” items over the years. Ever seen one of those carts in a shopping mall or an ad in the back of a magazine? Pretty much the same thing. We used to get many of those lovely offers by postcard in the regular mail. Over the years many people have told about how they laugh when promised the info on the family name’s origin and meaning or the historically accurate coat of arms. True family historians know about names changes and spelling differences in their own family background and that these one size fits all coats of arms mean nothing.

I hate to see unsuspecting people drawn in by the promises of such material. Each individual, each family is unique and there are no predetermined ready-made family history materials. Good genealogy takes time to research. There are many places to learn what’s the correct way to learn and to research. 

Oh, and Chris tells us that the man behind these commercials is the same man who sold such miracle products as the Ginsu knife. And the guy is even offering franchises of the new business. Run, don’t walk, away, please. Chris, your graduation gift to your Mom is truly an international gift to many.