Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) FREE webinar May 16 on finding name changes

I saw the first sentence of Judy Russel’s description for her upcoming webinar and yelled YAYYY. I really did yell that loudly. “Names weren’t changed at Ellis Island, but in courts, legislatures, and elsewhere both formally and officially — and on the fly.”

How can we get beginning (and probably some who say they aren’t beginners to log into this FREE webinar on name changes?

FREE BCG-SPONSORED WEBINAR
“Name Changes and the Law”
by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 8:00 p.m. (EDT)

Names weren’t changed at Ellis Island, but in courts, legislatures, and elsewhere both formally and officially — and on the fly. As genealogists, we need to know why names were changed, and how those changes might be recorded if we want to have a chance at finding out what’s in a name.

A genealogist with a law degree, Judy G. Russell is a lecturer, educator, and writer who enjoys helping  others understand a wide variety of genealogical issues, including the interplay between genealogy and the law. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark, and holds Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Lecturer credentials from the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She has worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor and, until her retirement, was an adjunct member of the faculty at Rutgers Law School. Judy is a Colorado native with roots deep in the American South on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side. Visit her website at www.legalgenealogist.com.

BCG’s next free monthly webinar in conjunction with Legacy Family Tree Webinars is “Name Changes and the Law” by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL. This webinar airs Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 8:00 p.m. EDT. When you register before May 16 with our partner Legacy Family Tree Webinars (http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=8102) you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Anyone with schedule conflicts may access the webinar at no charge for one week after the broadcast on the Legacy Family Tree Webinars website.

“We appreciate the opportunity to present these high-quality educational webinars,” said President Faye Jenkins Stallings, CG. “At BCG, our purpose is to promote public confidence in genealogy by supporting uniform standards of competence. These webinars help to achieve that by providing educational opportunities to family historians of all levels of experience.” Following the free period for this webinar, BCG receives a small commission if you view this or any BCG webinar by clicking our affiliate link: http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=2619.
To see the full list of BCG-sponsored webinars for 2023, visit the BCG blog SpringBoard at https://bcgcertification.org/bcg-2023-free-webinars/.  For additional resources for genealogical education, please visit the BCG Learning Center (https://bcgcertification.org/learning).

 

 

 

Legacy Family Tree Webinars Spring 2023 New Memberships 50% off!

It’s a big deal! Only $25 for a year’s new membership. That’s a half-off price.

You’ll get one full year of anytime access to all 1,950+ classes and 7,400+ syllabus pages. Catch up on webinars you missed, rewatch those you need again, and all those handouts! Geoff Rasmussen and the Legacy Family Tree Webinars team does it again!

Offer valid for new memberships only, and expires on May 13, 2023 at 11:59PM. Click here to purchase this special deal. 

 

 

2023 May & June National Archives Genealogy Series Free Online

Be among the initial viewers to view these free on the National Archives YouTube channel beginning Wednesday, May 3! As the archives relates “In recognition of public service, we are offering a special Genealogy Series focused on both military and civilian records. The series will provide family history research tools for all skill levels along with a general overview to specific topics. Broadcasts of the program sessions will take place in May and June.  All are welcome!”

After the initial showing, “the video and handouts will remain available on this web page and YouTube”

For more details visit here. Overview of the schedule:

 

 

 

MyHeritage added 72 million records in March 2023

https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/04/myheritage-adds-72-million-records-and-38-historical-record-collections-in-march-2023/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=406931_newsletter_202304&utm_term=Historical+records&utm_content=EN&tr_date=20230425

 

I did some searching in German, Scottish, and Swedish records. Some interesting things, but not for my families. Seems to be my recurring theme. 

 

 

Added hours for the library at the Minnesota Genealogy Center

The Minnesota Genealogical Society has announced an additional day of open hours for the Hoffman Research Library at the Minnesota Genealogy Center. It is located in Mendota Heights, just outside of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. 
 
Beginning Monday, May 1st, the Hoffman Research Library will add Monday to the days it is open for researchers. The hours will be from 10 AM to 4 PM. Volunteers make this possible. New volunteers are paired with an experienced volunteer to learn the ropes. No experience is necessary. Go to https://mngs.org/Hoffman-Research-Library to learn more about the Hoffman Research Library and volunteering.
 
The HRL will now be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On Thursdays, it’s open from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Volunteer to be sure the library is kept open during all those hours. 
 
Volunteering is fun, adds to your own knowledge, and you’ll meet new friends. I volunteered during the first twelve years that MGS had a library and occasionally since then. 
 
An overview of the fantastic material at the HRL. https://mngs.org/Collection 

Free Online U.S. National Archives Genealogy Lectures in May and June

National Archives Hosts Genealogy Series in May & June 

Participate in our genealogy series – free and online!


WHAT: The National Archives and Records Administration is pleased to present our annual Genealogy Series on YouTube. This educational series of lectures will teach you how to use federal resources at the National Archives for genealogical research. This year we focus on individuals who have served our nation in military or civilian service. You will also learn how to preserve your own family collections. Sessions are intended for beginners to experienced family historians—all are welcome! 

Lecture descriptions, videos, handouts, and participation instructions are available at the 2023 Genealogy Series web page.
  
WHEN: May & June 2023—all sessions take place on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. ET

May 3: Civilians at War: Records of Participation in U.S. Military Conflicts

May 10: Basic Military Records at the National Archives: Revolutionary War to 1917

May 17: National Archives at St. Louis: Understanding the 1973 Fire and Its Impact on 

Genealogical Research

May 31: Civilian Conservation Corps Indian Division on the Reservation

June 7: Accessing and Understanding Korean War Army Unit Records

June 14: Planning, Techniques, and Strategies for Preserving Family Collections and Stories


WHO: Staff experts in government records from National Archives facilities nationwide broadcasting from Washington, DC; College Park, MD; Denver, CO; and St. Louis, MO.

 
WHERE: The series will be broadcast on the U.S. National Archives YouTube channel



Washington County, Minnesota Cemetery Information

The Washington County (Minnesota) Historical Society has a new online section about cemeteries in the county. This was posted on its Facebook page on Saturday: 

“Good news for cemetery researchers! The Washington County Historical Society now has a whole section of our website dedicated to cemeteries in Washington County. A huge thanks to WCHS volunteer Kimberlee Herr for creating this important resource!”
 
Click here to see the list, cemetery descriptions, some historical notes, whether there is a church connection, and a link to the cemetery website if there is one. 

 
 

Minnesota Genealogical Society Midwest Migration Institute

Check your calendars! This coming August right here in the Twin Cities area. Join us for this new course. Registration has opened for MIGRATION TO AND THROUGH THE MIDWEST — a first of its kind two-day institute-style course that will provide education for genealogists and family historians on 18-19 August at the Minnesota Genealogy Center, Mendota Heights, Minnesota. https://mngs.org/midwest-migration-institute