Where is she now?

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

I think I need a featured spot on the Today show similar to the Where in the World is Matt Lauer? Somehow, I doubt that the show’s producers and the viewing audience would care where I am!

This past Saturday I presented an all-day seminar for the Tennessee Genealogical Society in Germantown, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis. TnGen has a wonderful separate library in conjunction with the supportive community officials of Germantown. What a nice example for other places! I had a tour of this large and nicely lit space which also has space for classes. The genealogy library has books and other materials for many states other than Tennessee. Dick Eastman talked about this genealogy library opening a year ago. The TnGen website has a neat virtual tour of the library.

On Friday evening the society had a banquet and I was privileged to meet Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy and her husband, Jim. We had a wonderful time talking to each other. Jim is a Duluth, Minnesota native and Sharon lived in Duluth for a while.

Columbus Day? Warning: Soapbox Ahead

Paula Stuart-Warren  American Indian, Holidays  Leave a comment

What day did you celebrate yesterday? More than likely it was Columbus Day. I celebrated Native American Day, too. I am thrilled that my ancestors immigrated to the United States, but we must not forget that the ancestors of many other people were already here! Indian tribes spanned the country and kept being forced further westward by the later arrivals to this land. I have always groaned when reading histories that expound on how the Indians were given land for their reservation two or even eight states away. Much of this land was theirs to begin with and more importantly the land “given” to them by the U.S. government was often not farmable. I read one bit of official correspondence that discussed how some land was being eroded by the river and basically the Indian family was told “tough.”

South Dakota has declared a specific Native American Day the last week in September. Other areas celebrate Native American Day on various dates, but some do observe it on what others call Columbus Day. Let’s not forget the original settlers of what was to become the United States, Canada, and other areas.

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2008

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy  Leave a comment

I hope you already know about the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. The 2008 edition takes place from January 7-11 in Salt Lake City, of course. The unique aspect of this institute is the immediate access to the Family History Library. Student can immediately apply what they have learned. Classes are five days long and ample time is provided for research at the FHL.

Students choose from ten courses and remain in that same course for the week. The 2008 courses include courses on Western U.S. research, problem solving, writing family histories, Welsh and Scandinavian research. I have been teaching and coordinating at SLIG since the mid 1990s. This year I am once again coordinating Course I American Records and Research: Focusing on Families.

This intermediate level course assists researchers in learning about and using sources and methods. The 2008 classes focus on topics related to researching families and individuals. Sixteen informative classroom hours on significant U.S. records and strategies take you beyond basic research tools. In addition, for this course, six hours of in-person help in the Family History Library during the Institute week provides hands-on assistance. Three of the instructors provide this valuable guidance. This course alternates every other year with another Institute course with resources related more directly to localities.

For more info on the institute, other courses, special evening classes, and to register, visit the Utah Genealogical Association’s website.

October 4th is a special day in my family

Paula Stuart-Warren  Anniversary, Family  Leave a comment

Sixty years ago today my parents were married. That’s right — 60 years ago. Both of them are still alive. Dad is 88 and Mom is 81. Their celebration was quiet today since my Mom is afflicted with Alzheimer’s. I looked for weeks to find just the right 60th Anniversary card. In the end I bought a blank card and wrote my own message from the heart. I was born 9 months and 4 days after their wedding. My middle sister often reminds the entire family that she was the planned one — not me.

Learnin’ & cruisin’

Paula Stuart-Warren  Cruise, Seminars  Leave a comment

It’s time to think about taking a Genealogy Cruise in 2008. I highly recommend one that takes place October 25-November 1, 2008 (I am one of the speakers). Hosted by Fly Away Travel, this cruise is on the brand new Liberty of the Seas ship, owned by Royal Caribbean International. I was pleased to see an article about the Liberty of the Seas in the September/October issue of AAA Living Magazine.
You can read this article online at the AAA website.

This seven night cruise with well-known genealogy speakers is the perfect blend of relaxation and learning. I was a part of another genealogy cruise a couple of years ago and the experience was better than terrific. Cruises often offer lectures, workshops, and other great activities. cThis Genealogy “Seminar at Sea” is a special segment of a regular cruise. To attend the genealogy sessions, you must book your cruise through Fly Away Travel. As a passenger, you will be able to partake of all activities on the cruise. (And, of course, the wonderful food.) Do you have a spouse, friend, sibling, child, or significant other who cannot understand how you can spend an entire day at a genealogy seminar or in a library? This is the perfect way to attend a seminar and still spend time with them. They will be so busy and pampered that they won’t even care when you attend a session.

The cruise departs from Miami on October 28th, 2008, and returns to Miami on November 2nd. This cruise has an itinerary that includes stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, and Labadee, Haiti (Royal Caribbean’s private island). The genealogy sessions are offered on the three days at sea so that you may enjoy the shore days with no conflicting events. We get to spend the week on a new, up-to-date, and clean ship. Amenities aboard the Liberty of the Seas include a water park, fitness center, live music, rock climbing wall, dancing, shops, casino, spectacular views, many restaurants, 24 hour room service, and a mini-golf course. Or, you may just find yourself a deck chair and relax. You might consider bringing along a costume for Halloween – but it is not a requirement. I saw some pictures of the costumed genealogists and speakers from the 2006 cruise.

The lineup of speakers is just one of the treats for this cruise. John Colletta, Stephen Danko, Michael J. Leclerc, Paul Milner, George Morgan, Donna Moughty, Laura Prescott, and Paula Stuart-Warren. The list of their topics is online and the areas of expertise of this impressive group and their lectures cover just about all areas of genealogy. Handouts for the sessions are included in the price. When not teaching, my plans include sunshine, massage, spending some money in the shops and on land, taking some tours, playing mini-golf, and karaoke (some of my colleagues have already told me I WILL participate — oh, are they in for a surprise and a headache when they hear my voice.)

Need a roommate? If you are seeking someone to share your cabin, let FLY AWAY TRAVEL know — they may have the name of someone else looking for a roommate. Talk to fellow members of your genealogical society and convince them they need to register for this week — and don’t forget to mention that you are looking for a roommate to share the expenses! I look forward to seeing some “old” friends and meeting new friends on the genealogy part of the cruise. There are still cabins left so reserve your spot now before they are gone. For more info: Genealogy Cruise http://www.genealogycruises.com/
Travel Agency http://www.flyawaytravel.com/
Royal Carribean http://www.royalcaribbean.com/

More novels with a genealogy connection

Paula Stuart-Warren  Genealogy Novels, Novels  2 Comments

A friend from Saskatchewan, Eileen Condon, shared more titles of genealogy novels. She mentioned “Killing Cousins by Gene Stratton (the author of Applied Genealogy). It’s been around since 1989, but I’m not sure if anyone else has suggested it. I also read Bloodline by Fiona Mountain–had Barnes and Noble order it for me after reading a review in “People” magazine. Of all places to find a genealogical reference!!” The latter is subtitled A Natasha Blake Ancestor Detective Mystery.

Please share your suggestions for novels with a genealogy connection. Send them to me via e-mail or as a comment to this blog post. I am seeing some duplication, but that’s OK — it may be mean a higher recommendation for the novel.

For previous titles check here, here, and here

Orphan Train Riders

Paula Stuart-Warren  Orphan Trains  Leave a comment

Today’s St. Paul Pioneer Press has an interesting article about the Orphan Trains. This Saturday the 47th annual Minnesota reunion of New York Orphan Train riders is being held in Little Falls, Minnesota. The plights of these children are often sombering.

For more info on the Orphan Trains, research tips, and other reunions, check these websites:
The Orphan Train Heritage Society of America which began back in 1986 in Springdale, Arkansas

National Orphan Train Complex which will have a museum and research center and will house the Orphan Train Heritage Society.

Many books and articles have been written on the orphan trains and the riders. A 1995 PBS special was produced under the American Experience series and titled The Orphan Trains. A transcipt is on the website.

The Anniversary of Emoticons :-)

Paula Stuart-Warren  Emoticons  Leave a comment

The Minneapolis Star Tribune had an article this morning about the 25th anniversary of the emoticon. I am sure it will bring further discussion of whether the man in the article was the first one to use the 🙂 to denote a smiley face in an electronic message. I figure that others will claim that title as this anniversary article makes it way around the country and the world. Carnegie Mellon professor Scott E. Fahlman first used that smiley face on September 19th, 1982.

I found the article interesting and thought you might, too. 🙂

United Kingdom Non-Conformist B, M, D

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

The National Archives of the United Kingdom has a new partnership with S&N Genealogy Supplies that gives researchers access to online images from non-parochial and non-conformist birth, marriages, and deaths from a variety of religious denominations covering 1567- into the 19th century. A basic search can be done at no cost, but to obtain extended information and to view the actual images, credits must be purchased. I typed in one of my English surnames, Copping, and found entries I will definitely be checking.

Read the full article here