2024 GRIP “Digging Deeper: Records, Tools, and Skills” Course Details

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  ,  Leave a comment

Update: The GRIP website is finally live! https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/

This week I am sharing some additional details on the 2024 GRIP Course, “Digging Deeper: Records, Tools, and Skills.” I will post over several days due to the length of all the details. Watch for those details on the individual sessions in upcoming posts about this course that is on the intermediate level. The National Genealogical Society will soon post more details about all courses and how to register.

Coordinator: Paula Stuart-Warren, CG®, FMGS, FUGA

My fellow instructors are amazingly experienced in their topics:

Amy E. K. Arner, CG
Cyndi Ingle
Debbie Mieszala, CG
Paula Stuart-Warren, CG
Cari Taplin, CG

This may be your course! It covers 19th through 21st century U.S. records, online resources, and methodology. If you answer yes to any of these questions, this is your course.

  • Are you past the beginning stages of researching your family history?
  • Have you researched online but know there is more elsewhere or that you have missed some online resources?
  • Do you need a stronger foundation before taking advanced or specialized courses?
  • Are you not yet comfortable with in-depth evaluation of documents and setting up research plans?

When we have checked basic records and done online searches but still have missing details, we need more leads and a better job of analyzing the records. We will dig deeper into a variety of records, some you may have never heard about, and where they are found. There will be several hands-on and interactive activities, small group discussions, and full class interaction.

Personal brick wall opportunity. A special course aspect involves receiving advice for one of your research brick walls. In late March of 2024, registrants will receive specific details and a firm deadline about sending the coordinator a brief research issue. These will be shared in the course syllabus. At the end of Monday through Thursday, we will work together to help solve these mysteries.

Best ways to take advantage of the week. The course includes a “homework” group project that is optional but strongly suggested. Past students found they gained much through these exercises. An extensive syllabus including both online and offline resources is provided for this course, and you do need to read ahead for each day. A helpful suggestion is that you work on a laptop, desktop computer, or electronic tablet for taking notes and especially for research on the week’s activities and the in-class hands-on work. Adding a larger extra external monitor is even better for your work during the week.


New Legacy Amendment Grants to History Organizations Throughout Minnesota

Paula Stuart-Warren  Minnesoa Historical Society, Minnesota  , ,  Leave a comment

Historical preservation covers many angles. People, places, historical markers, and even work to apply for historical designations. The Minnesota Historical Society has announced small and large grants approved by the MNHS Executive Council in December 2023. The grants are mainly for work to be done in 2024. A selection of the grants is listed below. The URLs below each section will take to the full listings for each size grant.


Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grant Recipients

Faribault County Historical Society, Blue Earth, $10,000
To hire a qualified historian to complete an evaluation to determine eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for Walter Mondale’s boyhood home in Elmore, Minnesota.

Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead, $10,000
To hire qualified professionals to publish a book on the history of two female Clay County painters whose pioneer families’ histories were preserved in their writings and artwork.

Upper Mississippi Academy, St. Paul, $8,190
To add Indigenous Minnesota history educational items and books to Upper Mississippi Academy’s holdings to make this information more accessible to the public.

https://www.mnhs.org/media/news/small-legacy-grants-october-fy24


Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Large Grant Recipients

City of Browns Valley, Browns Valley, $259,681
To hire qualified professionals to repair the Browns Valley Carnegie Public Library, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

City of Duluth, Duluth, $165,725
To design, produce, and install a set of interpretive markers on the City of Duluth’s Lakewalk to tell the history of the city’s growth and evolution.

Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota, St. Paul, $85,978
To hire qualified professionals to produce a documentary on the recent history of Romanian immigration to Minnesota.

Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul, $24,000
To develop a web-based portal that will enable better public access to Ramsey County Historical Society’s historic resources.

Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, St. Paul, $200,026
To hire qualified consultants to develop and install an exhibit to interpret the history and cultural significance of Wakáŋ Tipi Cave (Dwelling Place of the Sacred), a historically significant Dakota sacred site in St. Paul.

https://www.mnhs.org/media/news/large-legacy-grants-fy24


GRIP Genealogy Institute Summer 2024 Pricing

Paula Stuart-Warren  GRIP  ,  Leave a comment

The long-running and fabulous Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP or GRIP Genealogy Institute) is now part of the National Genealogical Society. Registration opens 20 February 2024 and NGS promises a full website soon. Among the many courses offered, I will once again be coordinating and teaching the intermediate level course “Digging Deeper: Records, Tools, and Skills.” I have invited Amy E. K. Arner, CG, Cyndi Ingle, Debbie Mieszala, CG, and Cari Taplin, CG to be instructors in the course. I will describe more about the course and sessions in a few days. In the meantime, get ready for this virtual course 23-28 June 2024 and be ready to register, learn, experience an extended syllabus, and get hands-on experience in some sessions and the opportunity to get one of your genealogy research problems analyzed.



Holocaust survivor had no clue who he was. A MyHeritage DNA test found family and his name.

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  ,  2 Comments

An amazing story of a young child now an older adult being reunited with family due to a match from his MyHeritage DNA test. The MyHeritage blog has the full story of family in two distant countries matching. If you are interest in match stories and reunions, check for more on the MyHeritage blog.

From the blog: “Until several months ago, Shalom Korai, 83, knew nothing about his past: not who his parents were, not his given name, not a single detail. He was a man without roots.”

Read the blog post here https://blog.myheritage.com/2024/01/holocaust-survivor-orphaned-as-a-toddler-finds-his-family-thanks-to-a-myheritage-dna-match/. You’ll be glad you did. Wow.


NARA has caught up on Veteran Record Requests

Paula Stuart-Warren  National Archives  ,  Leave a comment

I received this new presss release just minutes ago! The National Archive’s National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis has done what must have seemed impossible. It’s most important that the NPRC first do the work for veterans and their family members in need of benefits. The full Press Release is here https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2024/nr24-10



Minnesota Genealogical Society’s Hoffman Research Library Offers Personalized Help

Paula Stuart-Warren  Libraries, Minnesota Genealogical Society    1 Comment

The Minnesota Genealogical Society’s Mid-Month Education News for January 2024 nicely laid out the special days at the Hoffman Library for researchers seeking extra assistance in using the library, in some of the associated groups that also have materials at the library, and beyond. The library is open four days each week and on Thursday evenings until 8:00 p.m. CT. It’s a volunteer-run library and has been since October 1985. The library covers much more than Minnesota, but the Minnesota collection is huge. The library is currently located in Mendota Heights, a suburb of Saint Paul at 1385 Mendota Heights Road, Suite 100, Mendota Heights, MN  55120-1367. (651) 330-9312.

Here’s the text from the newsletter that explains this and more.


Most family researchers are relatively comfortable looking at resources in their own language and current homeland. But brick walls may start to form when they cross borders, oceans, continents, and languages in their search for relatives.

Don’t you wish you had a live guide through the many country-focused resources available at the Hoffman Research Library? If you can make it to the Minnesota Genealogy Center in Mendota Heights, you CAN get one-on-one help with your genealogy problems. The groups, affiliates, and partners listed below dedicate their time each month to meeting with users in person. They can answer questions, explain specific print resources, and even demonstrate the databases available at the MGC.

Wait – there’s more!  If you are outside the area, they may also be able to help you from afar. Some of the groups have research committees who are willing to take inquiries and do look-ups for you. Click on the relevant links at the bottom of every issue of this newsletter to check out their specific websites for details. There is a lot of good stuff to be found there.

Canadian – third Saturday of the month, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

German – third Saturday of the month from 1:00 to 4:00 pm after the German Document Translation Group meeting  NEW

Irish – second Saturday of the month, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Polish – first Saturday of the month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and each Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm

Pommern – first Saturday in February, May, August, and November, from 10:00  am to 1:00 pm prior to quarterly meetings

Swedish – third Thursday of the month from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

The Hoffman Research Library is scheduled to be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays 10 am – 4 pm and Thursdays 10 am – 8 pm –  when there are enough volunteers to staff it. It may also close due to adverse weather conditions. Please check our website for closures as you plan your visit.


The 1931 Canadian census is fully indexed and searchable on FamilySearch!

Paula Stuart-Warren  census, Uncategorized  , ,  Leave a comment

FamilySearch Press Release today:

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, 16 January 2024—FamilySearch, the world’s largest genealogical organization, and Libraries Archive Canada (LAC), are happy to announce the completion of the free, fully searchable index and images of the 1931 Census of Canada. This significant achievement is a remarkable resource for genealogists, historians, and anyone interested in uncovering their Canadian roots. Search the census now at FamilySearch.org.

The digital images of the 1931 Census of Canada, the 7th census for Canada, were made available by the Libraries and Archives Canada in June of 2023. Ancestry®, and nonprofit FamilySearch, then went to work extracting information written on each enumerated page to create a name-searchable index of over 10 million people waiting to be discovered from its 234,678 pages.

Key Highlights of the 1931 Census of Canada Release

  • Full Accessibility: Each enumerated page of the historic 1931 Census of Canada has been digitized and made available online, ensuring that researchers worldwide can access this invaluable resource from the comfort of their homes.
  • Fully Searchable Name Index: With the introduction of a fully searchable name index, individuals can now easily locate their ancestors and discover unique insights about their lives. Whether you’re seeking birthplaces, occupations, or household members, FamilySearch’s robust search functionality yields a high probability you will discover your Canadian ancestors if they are in the census.
  • High-Quality Images: The release includes high-quality images of the original census records, preserving the historical integrity of the documents while enabling users to view them in remarkable detail.
  • Collaborative Effort: This project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of FamilySearch and Ancestry.com, which transcribed and indexed the records, and the Library and Archives Canada, which generously provided access to the census materials.

FamilySearch invites anyone with Canadian roots to explore the 1931 Census of Canada and embark on a journey through time to uncover their family’s stories. This release aligns with our commitment to help preserve and provide access to the world’s genealogical records, making family history discoveries more possible for all.

To access the 1931 Census of Canada and begin your journey of discovery, please visit FamilySearch.org.


Buckman, Minnesota, Origin of the Name

Paula Stuart-Warren  Minnesota, Uncategorized  ,  Leave a comment

I’ve written about Buckman before and I try to drive through the town about once a year. Several summers during my childhood were spent in Buckman. My maternal Aunt Jeannie took me there before she remarried to spend a few days with her late husband’s grandparents. As a city girl, it was a shock when we had to make use of the outhouse and had to pump water. That part aside, I enjoyed my time with Grandpa Matt (Mathias) and Grandma Anna Mueller. They were both born in Germany and I wish I could remember if they spoke German while I was there. Mathias emigrated as a baby with his parents. Anna was about five years old when her family emigrated.

A recent alert from Google led me to a story about how Buckman got its name. It had less than 0 residents when I was there as a child and today it has 307 residents. “It was established in 1869 and was named after one it’s early settlers, Clarence B. Buckman. Buckman later became a United States Representative in 1881 and was a Minnesota Senator for 3 terms and he was also a U.S. Marshal.”

Read more about the town history and How Buckman Got It’s Name; The Story of Buckman that was posted from St. Cloud radio station WJON back in December. The printed story that link ttakes you to, included some photos including an aerial photo of Buckman. I checked with another grandson (Greg) of the Muellers to verify which house belonges to the Muellers. That is marked with a red arrow on the aerial view below. St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church is in the middle of the photo and the cemetery is across the street from the church. I was thrilled as a child when I was allowed to ring the church bell.

One of my past posts about Buckman and my uncle by marriage: https://genealogybypaula.com/2017/11/2017-veterans-day-has-new-meaning-as-a-pow-uncle-is-returned/