Family History Library in Salt Lake City extends hours

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A press release this morning tells this great news.

“The FamilySearch Family History Library, one of Salt Lake City’s top attractions and the world’s largest genealogy library, will extend its hours of operation beginning Sunday, June 2, 2019. For the first time, the main floor of the library, including the FamilySearch Discovery Experiences, will be open on Sundays, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., and extended to 9:00 p.m. on Mondays. Regular library hours will be Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.”

This means access to databases, images, subscriptions, and more on the library computers on the main floor on Sunday afternoons. On Mondays we don’t have to leave the FHL at 5:00 p.m. Thank you FHL! Read the full press release here.

A quality new Facebook group: The Genealogy Squad

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What could go right with a Facebook help page that is headed by Blaine Bettinger, Cyndi Ingle, George Morgan, and Drew Smith? Easy answer: EVERYTHING.

The stated mission is “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 genealogists at all levels. We focus on answering questions and solving problems, while demonstrating best practices in all aspects of genealogical research.”

It is a closed and moderated group so that keeps out the spammers complainers, belly-achers, and to gently correct misinformation. To join in on the activity, you must respond to two simple questions. It’s a perfect place to ask questions, get great answers, and to share what you know. Check it out! https://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogysquad/

MyHeritage FREE access to Danish and Finish records

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Do you have ancestors and origins in Denmark or Finland? I have one Danish great grandfather. A nice press release gave some details on free access to records.

MyHeritage recently added the 1940 Denmark Census to its historical records database, “making MyHeritage the world’s most comprehensive online resource for Danish historical records.”

“To mark this milestone, we are opening up access to ALL 105 million Danish records on MyHeritage for FREE, starting today and until May 12, 2019 (inclusive). As a bonus to delight our users with Nordic roots, we are also providing FREE access to ALL 48.6 million Finnish records on MyHeritage.”

As Daniel Horowitz from MyHeritage said: “No registration needed, no credit card required, simply search, find and enjoy.”

My next two genealogical presentation locations

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I have been asked about this several times this week while at the Ohio Genealogical Society annual conference. It’s always a great conference. My next two presentations are in Minnesota and California.

May 21: 12:00 Noon, Owatonna, Minnesota, Steele County Historical Society, Brown Bag Session. Bring your lunch!
The Farmer in the Dell – and in Many U.S. Records: Paula Stuart-Warren will work with attendees seeking information about ancestral farms. Name 20 places to seek information about ancestral farms. 25? 30? This session and accompanying handout demonstrate the extensive records and places for learning more about ancestral farmers and farms. No matter the present status of the property, there are ways to learn more about the farmers, farm, and related activities.

May 30-June 2: Southern California Genealogical Society Annual Jamboree, Burbank. A conference full of DNA and general in-depth genealogical education. I am doing presentations on Thursday and Friday. My presentations:

What Are My Next Steps? Hands-On Research Planning Workshop

The Three Rs: Reading, ‘Riting, and Research in School Records

On the Clock! Demystifying the BCG Portfolio Process

Major Midwestern Databases and Indexes for Family History Research




Updated genealogy presentations calendar

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Twice in the past week, I have been asked whether I was still doing genealogy presentations. Easy answer to that: definitely yes! I have been entrenched in a couple large research projects and thus have been pretty quiet on social media in recent months compared to earlier.

I have now updated my presentations calendar and can still schedule more presentations for 2019 and into 2020. My topics, descriptions of those, and my scheduled presentations are listed under the Speaking tab above. If your organization would like information on details and costs for single lectures, workshops, or full-day seminars, please contact me at PaulaStuartWarren at gmail.com.

I hope to see many of my readers in the next few months at presentations in Owatonna, Minnesota; Mason, Ohio; Burbank, California; Hudson, Wisconsin; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Digitized law books and genealogical education: Join us this summer!

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Have you seen the FB posts about Debbie Mieszala’s ongoing blog series about online access to historic laws? She is being lauded for her work of drawing together the many places that we can check for free to learn what was in effect at the time our ancestors lived in that area. Those laws do greatly affect our research. One of her posts tells of New York “linked digitized law books include colonial laws, session laws, and private acts.” http://advancinggenealogist.com/historic-new-york-statutes/

Did you know that Debbie is teaching four sessions in the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh’s course “Digging Deeper: Records, Tools, and Skills” this coming July 14-19? One of her sessions is: “Legal Savvy for the Genealogist” and her description is “Knowing laws past and present, how the legal system works, and the types of legally influenced records available to genealogists are essential. Learn why documents were created, what they mean, and how the law impacted our ancestors’ lives and records about them.”

Debbie holds a certificate in paralegal studies. Debbie and I are joined that week by two other fantastic instructors, Karen Mauer Jones and Melissa Johnson. Learn more at https://www.gripitt.org/courses/digging_deeper/. We still have some seats available. In May, those registered for this course will receive a special offer with details about having one of their brick wall research issues discussed in class. The tips and clues received during the discussion furthers the research and just might solve a long-time problem.

Please feel free to share my post with others who may be interested in the course or Debbie’s series of laws posts.

Rechecking genealogy websites and databases: FamilySearch

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In my presentations for genealogical and historical organizations, I talk about the importance of periodically rechecking all the free and subscription websites and databases. New records appear, indexes are added or updated, and bingo you have some new information to investigate. This weeks press release from FamilySearch shows a lot of added indexes names. Checking the catalog, databases, Wiki, and more at http://familysearch.org/ is totally free! Just sign in and have a blast investigating all this for free. The graphic below shows just part of this week’s update news. Now, please excuse me while I check some of these.

From a five-story fall to the Irish origins of one woman: genealogical analysis and deep research

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If you get a chance now that it’s online at Legacy Family Tree Webinars, be sure to view/listen to the 19 March webinar by Debbie Mieszala titled “The Five-story Fall: Correlating Indirect and Direct Evidence to Extend the Pedigree.” Excellent step-by-step case study of a research process to solve the parentage of a woman who died in NYC, but her Irish origins were found by dedicated analysis, comparison of associates, and research in three countries. It gave me some ideas on my own Irish family.

Check out this webinar here sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. You will be amazed at the twists and turns. If you don’t get a chance to view this during this next week it’s online for free, consider a subscription to the almost 900 webinars. My affiliate link to the subscription form is http://legacy.familytreewebinars.com/?aid=1739.

March 30 class, Red Wing, MN on researching and writing

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“Easier Than You Think! Researching and Compiling Family History” is my next scheduled presentation for the Goodhue County Historical Society in Red Wing, Minnesota. Join me on March 30, 2019 from 1:00-3:00. We’ll cover analyzing various documents in the session with a hands-on session, list detail gaps or issues with these, and create step-by-step research plans that will form the basis for excellence in a family history quest. Success improves with careful planning, group discussion, and proven techniques to develop these research plans. This really is easier than you think, and you will leave this workshop feeling smarter, knowing more research resources, and in better control of your research. Bring a laptop computer or tablet if you have one. Session participants will have the opportunity to be the first ones to sign up for an individual consultation about your own research with Paula on April 8th. For more information call the Goodhue County Historical Society, 651-388-6024. This class is co-sponsored by Red Wing Community Education and the Goodhue County Historical Society. 

Class size is limited. The cost is $24 and includes a detailed handout. Be sure to register through Red Wing Community Education today! Call 651-385-4565 for any questions regarding registration.