U.S. Census 72-year privacy rule details — or not.

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  5 Comments

I have searched and searched. I have contacted law librarians, archivists, and many who work at the U.S. National Archives. No one had an answer for the origin of the 72-year privacy rule regarding release of the U.S. federal census to the public. Many people are anxiously awaiting the April 1 release of the 1950 census to find our parents, grandparents, a lost family member, and for me, to see toddler Paula enumerated at 770 Jenks Ave. in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (I will tell you how I know the address in a future blog post.)

Yesterday, National Public Radio produced a piece that delved into the origin of that 72-year thing. I call it a thing because there’s still no definitive answer but lots of theories and some possible insight. The last paragraph gave me chills about the release of future federal censuses. Read the full article before you get to that, please. The direct link to the article is not working. Please search for the title: 

The U.S. census’s 72-year confidentiality rule has a strange history

 

PERSI? Where to find it and how to use it!

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PERSI? It’s the Periodical Source Index that is now hosted by the Allen County Public Library of Fort Wayne, Indiana. In fact, that’s where PERSI is produced. So, what is it? I call it a subject or topical index to thousands of genealogical and local history periodicals and it’s a free index search. Well-known ones and some obscure ones are included. Indiana? Oh, many from there, beyond there in the U.S., and worldwide. PERSI heavily covers the U.S. and Canada periodicals but there are gems from other places. The Genealogy Center at the main library in downtown Fort Wayne has all the periodicals that are indexed. I keep a running list of those I want to read. 

I could write many paragraphs on its usefulness and tips for finding information, but I will let a colleague do that for you. Cari Taplin, Certified Genealogist®, even shares some insight I had missed. 

Visit Cari’s blog for some fantastic information on PERSI. Par I was posted January 26th and Part 2 on February 3rd (today!). Go read and learn. Thanks, Cari. https://genealogypants.com/pantspockets/

 

MyHeritage updates color restoration. It’s a winner!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  ,  Leave a comment

A press release in my email from MyHeritage tell it has “released a new, improved model for color restoration — the feature within MyHeritage In Color™ that restores the hues in faded color photos. We’re celebrating with a special offer: free and unlimited use of MyHeritage In Color™, Photo Enhancer, and Photo Repair from January 24 to February 5, 2022!” For details see the MyHeritage blog.

I tried it on a fading photo from 1970 that shows my oldest son on Christmas Eve with the dachshund of our paternal cousins. I’m a fan of my son and of the color restoration. Yes, my oldest son was a redhead. Same for his brother!

 

I did nothing to change the picture other than clicked to colorize it and then reduced the size in this blog post! I didn’t even try to straighten it.


Feb 16 GRIP registration is nearing! Virtual genealogy education extraordinaire

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The Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh is in its eleventh year in 2022. I am fortunate to have been involved from the discussion stage to today! I hope you have February 16th marked on your calendar for the opening of online registration. 

Courses: https://www.gripitt.org/courses/

Registration details: https://www.gripitt.org/registration/ Please read this page well before February 16th so that you have the details and are ready to jump in to immediately register.

As blogged about previously, I will be teaching in June in the Following Ancestors in Place and Time course that is coordinated by Cari Taplin and takes place June 19-24. Then I am the Coordinator and an instructor in Digging Deeper: Records, Tools, and Skills course in July that takes place July 10-15.  Monday – Thursday in the Digging Deeper course are full days of classes, discussion, hands-on work, breaks, end of day problem solving, and even some light moments. Friday is a half-day. 

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

More learning and online discussion on Mastering Genealogical Documentation

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We family historians are so fortunate during these last few years to have access to online learning and discussion groups. A press release from today tells about one that I have read nothing but positive comments about! We can never stop learning and upgrading. 

“Registration is open now through January 21st for the MGD Study Group – Mastering Genealogical Documentation, Seven-Week Beginning Principles Course There will be two sessions lead by Cyndi Ingle of Cyndi’s List, Wednesday daytime Noon Pacific/3pm Eastern, and Wednesday evenings at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern (so adjust for your time zone). Each class will be about an hour. This is for those who have never studied this book before. We will be studying this from a beginner or slightly intermediate level. It is recommended that you have studied the book Mastering Genealogical Proof, but not a requirement for taking this class. If you’ve done one of these groups before and want a refresher, that’s ok too! We will take 25 students in each class. MGD, Jan 26 – March 16, 2022 (7 weeks with an optional 8th week for practice). Register for either group here, $75: – Noon Pacific – https://square.link/u/5OnY7Th3 – 4pm Pacific – https://square.link/u/VdVWcYAz Details here: https://genealogypants.com/research-and-consultation-services/classes-and-study-groups/mastering-genealogical-documentation-beginning-principles-class/“

My January 8th family teary memory with an extra genealogy connection

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized    2 Comments

I woke up this morning to a text from my sister, Linda. She said, “Hope Grandma Pat gets her Mounds Bar today.” Our Mom, Pat, loved Mounds Bars. She died on today’s date in 2008. There are still days when I want to pick up the phone to call her. That’s even after her many years with Alzheimer’s when she was not the same person I knew. Today’s date is also the day when five years before my Mom’s death, her only sibling died. Same date, five years apart. Aunt Jeanie was a special woman and I miss her, too. It always hits me on this date, and I knew where I was when I was told about both deaths. I was in Salt Lake City at the Family History Library researching for clients and teaching at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. I miss my January time and fun with friends in SLC. Hopefully when this dang virus is under control, I can go back there and I hope for no more bad news on January 8.

I spent part of the day driving past the home where I was raised and some nearby areas here in Saint Paul. I think this day makes me extra sad because of two deaths. This old picture shows the sisters with their cigarettes. Sigh.

Updated my genealogy presentations calendar

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It’s been a productive Friday. Finished a lengthy client research report, am now updating a handout for an upcoming presentation, and updated my 2022 presentations calendar. All while we have some very cold weather here, but the sun is shining!

At this point, I am still accepting only virtual webinar or seminar presentations. I’m also involved in two weeks of the virtual (GRIP) Genealogical Institute of Pittsburgh this summer. That said, I can still accept more such presentations for 2022 and beyond. If your organization is interested, let me know by email: PaulaStuartWarren at gmail dot com. You can also post a request as a comment to this post. I will then email you my background details, rates, and other important information. If you click on some of the buttons above, you will see just some of what you will need to make a decision on hiring me. 

Click on the Speaking button above to see the calendar, a list of presentation titles, and descriptions for many of those. I love working with audiences and sharing what I know in the presentation and the handout. 

The Genealogy Squad: another milestone

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45,000+ family historians can’t be wrong. Four administrators, designated helpers, and 45,000 other people willing to ask, share, and it’s one of the best groups on Facebook. We learn, we question, we grow. Part of the “About” for this group states “The mission of the Genealogy Squad Facebook group is to provide a positive space for the sharing of appropriate and reliable methods and resources to assist a global community of genealogists at all levels. We focus on answering questions and solving problems, while demonstrating best practices in all aspects of genealogical research.?” Questions and brick walls are from all over the world. Those who respond are from all over the world. Whether your genealogy questions or quandaries are from the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland or the ocean shore in Oregon, someone knows the answer or where you can look to find more details. It’s all amazing. The promise of a kind atmosphere is true. It’s a place for help, not complaints. It’s a place for thinking, not demanding. Join the smart crowd today. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2307834602793759

In December, the admins made this announcement: 

 

 

 

 

Legacy Family Tree Genealogy Webinars for 2022

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  , ,  2 Comments

Excellent news for genealogy education in 2022! The 2022 Legacy Family Trees and MyHeritage Webinar series is now open for registration. It’s the 13th year of these and the array of topics is astounding. What’s included? Presentations include specific countries, specific U.S. states (this time I am doing one on Michigan), DNA, technology, methodology, organizing, and many others. 

All live webinars are free and their recordings are free to watch for the first seven (7) days. To register for these, click here. for the website. BUT with a full webinar membership ($49.95 for a full year) you get these additional benefits:

  • Access to 1) all the existing 1,600+ classes in the library, 2) plus the 180+ webinars that will be added during the 2022 season, 3) plus any additional bonus members-only webinars (hundreds of these so far) – all available for the duration of your membership
  • Access to all 6,100+ pages of instructors’ handouts plus the new handouts of the 2022 season
  • Chat logs from the live webinars
  • Chance for a bonus subscribers-only door prize during each live webinar
  • Advanced navigation of videos with playlists and chapters
  • Exclusive section for all webinars you’ve registered for
  • Option to bookmark your favorites
  • Additional 5% off anything at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

Using my affiliate link to become a member helps to support my blog and website. I receive a small percentage of the $49.95 fee.  http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=1739

For more details and some special new items for 2022, check the press release. 

Fellowships for Great Migration research for Mississippi family historians

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  ,  Leave a comment

A press release from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History on December 27th tells about a research opportunity. Individuals working on their own family history rarely have a chance to do research supported by a fellowship. This project will help to document the Great Migration of African American Mississippians to the north and west in search of work, to hopefully escape racial prejudice, and an effort to establish a better family life. This migration began shortly before the first World War. In part, the news release states:

“The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) will award fellowships of up to $2,000 to support individuals hoping to locate information related to their family history using resources available at MDAH. The fellowships are a part of a year-long initiative in 2022 to expand understanding of the Great Migration and its impact on Mississippi and the nation.”

For more on this opportunity for a $2000 stipend that will be awarded to ten researchers:  https://www.mdah.ms.gov/news/mdah-launches-family-genealogy-fellowships.