Interviews with descendants of abolitionists who lived in Minnesota

Paula Stuart-Warren  Civil War, Minnesota  , , , ,  Leave a comment

“The Minnesota Digital Library recently added some oral history interviews with descendants of abolitionists who lived in Minnesota prior to the Civil War. They were shared by a new contributing organization called “Project Get Outdoors.”

“Many of them were associated with the Underground Railroad. The long-term goal of this project is to work with local county historical societies and cemetery associations to create a Freedom Trail highlighting the stories of these early civil rights activists and their final resting places.”

I saw this announcement in a newsletter for libraries, Minitex, from the University of Minnesota Libraries and the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. The 12 oral histories are online and free on the Minnesota Digital Library. The interviewees do not all live in Minnesota and some of the interviews are with historians researching the time period. The interviews may be downloaded and are accompanied by transcripts.

I need to continue listening to interesting histories. I wonder how many of my fellow family historians might have stories to contribute? Did the project reach out to genealogical organizations and their members? 

 

State Historical Society of Iowa and the outcome of 2-year partnership with Ancestry.com

Paula Stuart-Warren  Ancestry.com, Iowa  , ,  Leave a comment

“The agreement allowed the State Historical Society of Iowa and Ancestry to complete a two-year project to digitally image materials and integrate more than one million additional records from the State Archives in Ancestry’s searchable database.”

Read the full article about the December 2d announcement https://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/vinton_newspapers/state-historical-society-of-iowa-announces-project-partnership-outcomes-with-ancestry-com/article_89f02954-4254-4533-b940-0cf2ce5f4177.html

 

 

Updated information about my “2026-2027 Genealogical Presentation Details and Fees”

Paula Stuart-Warren  Presentations, Uncategorized, Webinars  , , , , ,  Leave a comment

Every so often someone asks how to get details on what I do as a speaker in the area of genealogy and history. When a civic, military, cultural, ethnic, historical, religious, or genealogical organization inquires about my historical and genealogical speaking services, I try to acknowledge the email within 24 hours. Yes, I have done presentations for all those types of organizations.

  • If a date or several dates have been specified, I check my calendar and let them know if the date(s) is available.
  • Then I send them my Genealogical Presentation Details and Fees packet.
  • If they have asked for a specific lecture title, I acknowledge that. If no title is suggested, then the link to the lecture list on my website is included.
  • No date or title is required for an initial inquiry.

Many years ago, the packet was 4 pages long. As more questions were asked about my services, or unfortunately when issues arose, I kept adding to that. I try to cover all points and that means more pages. Program chairs, please feel comfortable asking me additional questions.

One thing that has been constant since mid-2024 is my list of fees for webinars and seminars. No raises to those in 2025 and now for 2026.

Program chairs change over time and new volunteers may not yet know about various speakers. Even though I reside in the Saint Paul, Minnesota area, I have done presentations for many places in the U.S. and Canada. As my packet explains, each topic and handout are updated before each time it is presented. Most include segments about the general area where I am presenting.

If you know of an organization that is looking for new presentations or for someone that hasn’t been with them for a while, tell them to contact me via paulastuartwarren at gmail.com and to check out this website https://genealogybypaula.com/.

 

 

 

 

Need a free New York State Death Index 1880-2017? Reclaim the Records for the win!

Paula Stuart-Warren  New York  , , ,  2 Comments

I have some mid-late 1800s New York relatives and then more in the early 1900s. This newly free index is because the non-profit Reclaim the Records worked hard, filed a Freedom of Information lawsuit, kept working, and now we all have it! Want to know more and maybe look for some entries in it? https://www.newyorkdeathindex.com . Be sure to check out all the options under Advanced Search. WOW. Appreciate all the work of many of our genealogy colleagues in this effort? Click on the donate tab in the upper right corner of that death index page

 

 

 

Legacy Family Tree Webinars Half Price Sale for new members!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Webinars  , ,  Leave a comment

Where else are you able to find this extensive continuing education from top presenters around the genealogy world? I do mean world as Legacy Family Tree Webinars has live and saved presentations and handouts from many countries. Never joined? New members can save 50% right now.

Details:

  • 50% Off Annual Membership (New memberships only. Now $24.98)
  • Join now through Sunday, Nov 30, 2025 @ 11:59pm MT and then get access for a year! Offer EXTENDED through Sunday, 7 December 2025!

Some quick stats: (these don’t include all that you will learn from now and well into 2026!)

Total classes: 2,500+

Handout pages: 10,000+

DNA Classes: 322

Historical Records classes: 414

Tech classes: 217

I’d appreciate it if you would take advantage of the sale and help support this blog at the same time. It doesn’t affect your savings on this sale!  https://legacyfamilytree.com/checkout/?add-to-cart=93260&ref=566036&utm_campaign=2025-holiday-campaign

 

U.S. State Archives onsite research hours per week. A wide difference!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Archives  , , , , ,  1 Comment

The chart below is a sampling of hours that U.S. state archives are open for research each week. Many require appointments and don’t forget to double check the hours before a visit. Thoroughly browse through the website of any you plan to visit or to contact otherwise to learn more about the gems each holds. A growing number have catalogs, inventories, indexes and digitized records on their website. Some post a variety of records on state memory or encyclopedia projects. Check the major genealogy websites for some indexes and records from state archives.

I compiled a shorter version of this chart for my state archives session as part of this past September-October’s IGHR (Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research) sold out course “Repository Research: From Website to Doorway. ” It is being offered again on six Thursdays in March-April, 2026. Registration for this and other IGHR courses in 2026 began yesterday, November 22. https://ighr.gagensociety.org/

 

 

 

Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) registration opens Nov 22

Paula Stuart-Warren  Genealogy, Institutes  , , ,  Leave a comment
IGHR 2026 registration starts this Saturday, November 22, at NOON ET!

Registration now starts at the same time for ALL COURSES, including the six “IGHR Week” courses and the six once-a-week courses. Registration for each course will close one month before the course starts.

Now you can take more than one IGHR course per year. Finish the 3-course methodology sequence in 1-1.5 years. Register on your schedule, not ours!

First up are Genetics for Genealogists: Fundamentals of DNA (March 14-May 2) and Repository Research: From Website to Doorway (March 12-April 16). [I am an instructor in the Repository Research course that is being offered for only the second time after it sold out the first time.]

Visit the IGHR 2026 web page for more information on all courses and to watch a short registration video.
Each course costs $545. Georgia Genealogical Society (GGS) members receive a $50 discount for IGHR 2026. Become a member before registration at the GGS website. Members can find the discount code in the Members Area of the website.
IGHR now has a gift certificate! Check it out here.

 

 

WWII missing Minnesota service member from New Ulm is identified

Paula Stuart-Warren  DNA, Military  , ,  1 Comment

UPDATE: I neglected to add an important item, the name of the soldier who gave his life for the country. He is U.S. Army Captain Willibald Charles Bianchi, a World War II veteran from New Ulm, Brown County, Minnesota,

Articles that share the story about the identification of missing U.S. service members make me happy for the families that are involved. They get closure. The stories also make me happy because the professional genealogist involved in analyzing records, identifying generations of the service member’s extended family, and determining possible family to provide the DNA connection, is likely a friend of mine. I don’t know who the genealogist was in a case I heard about recently.

https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/Our-Stories/Article/4331184/dpaa-concludes-record-setting-2025-fiscal-year is another story that tells of the record number of such identifications in its 2025 fiscal year. It takes a variety of organizations and people to reach such a milestone.