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).
Great genealogy news: Stillwater, Minnesota newspapers are being digitized!
The Washington County [Minnesota] Historical Society added a wonderful post to its Facebook page yesterday. Collaboration does make a lot of records more accessible to researchers. https://www.facebook.com/WCHSMN

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
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
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:
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