Getting ready for a trip to SLIG and the FHL

Paula Stuart-Warren  Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, Uncategorized  2 Comments

It’s a January ritual for me and this year about 350 other people. This includes people from all over the U.S., Canada, and some other countries. The week-long Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) begins on Monday, January 11th with a special reception and registration the night before. That’s when students pick up their syllabus for each course.

Some arrive before SLIG in order to research at the Family History Library (FHL) where it’s a joy to simply pull films out of a drawer rather than waiting for them to arrive in your home area. Yes, some students live in the greater Salt Lake City area, but often the duties of daily life interfere with getting downtown to do the research. Others stay after SLIG and many scurry over to the FHL after classes each day.

As many of you know, I coordinate and teach the intermediate level U.S. Records and Research course that is a great step to take before some of the advanced courses. In this course, visits to the library are a must as students work on the week’s class project which is the main homework. The students in this course also have an opportunity to sign up for a private consultation with me or the other two instructors, Debbie Mieszala, CG, and Josh Taylor, MA, MLIS.

In addition to preparing for SLIG, I am reviewing client files to see what must be accomplished at the FHL and also some of my own files for a bit of family research. I have a few new leads on my own family. This means I am listing films that I want to view while I am there and can easily move from a filmed index to a filmed record or move to another film when I make a great discovery. Bring along a couple flash drives so that you can make digitized images from the films and transfer to your own flash drive. The flash drive is also important if you find something online while using one of the many library computers and subscription databases.

Don’t forget to pack a power strip/surge protector! We all have many things to plug into one.

I bring along some granola bars and apples for quick breakfasts and daytime snacks.  A Harmon’s grocery store is about 3.5-4 blocks from the Hilton Hotel where SLIG is held. Another option is to take the Trax light rail down to 400 South at 600 east to Smiths. Smiths has much more than groceries including clothes, jewelry, and even tools should you need a wrench for some reason! My main reason for going to the grocery store is to get lots of water and fresh fruit. The FHL allows us to bring in a closed water container.

My packing list includes plenty of lip balm and lotion since the air is so dry there. I bring my computer, cords, and my Fopydo for taking pictures from books using my phone. What is a Fopydo? www.fopydo.com/ You will likely see a few of us using one when we are on the third floor of the library.

One of the most important things to bring if you will be using your own computer in the library, is a cable lock that can help protect this important possession.

Light sleeper? Bring earplugs and a eye mask. Good sleep makes a better learner and researcher. The rest of what you need to bring is the standard stuff for any trip. If you don’t have a packing list, start one now and check online for lists others have posted on websites. It’s terrible to waste FHL time by running to the store again to purchase something you forgot to pack.

 

 

 

 

 

Alexandria, Minnesota resident traces family history to Silent Night composer

Paula Stuart-Warren  Christmas  4 Comments

Silent Night is a song that I have sung for most of my lifetime. In church choir we sang it and our family sang it at home.  The Alexandria, Minnesota Echo Press has the story of Butch Dallmann of Alexandria who “grew up hearing stories about his great-great-great-grandfather, an Austrian organist and choir master named Franz Gruber.”

Dallmann visited the composer’s Austrian village of Oberndorf in 2002. What an experience that must have been! The full story by writer Jessica Sly is worth reading in the Echo Press.

Update: Be sure to read Doug Williams’ comment to my post. Doug knows music and genealogy.

 

 

 

 

Updated Genealogy Presentation Calendar for 2016

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences, Conferences/Institutes, Seminars, Webinars  Leave a comment

I just finished updating my calendar of speaking engagements for 2016. These presentations will bring me in-person to many parts of the U.S. and to more in the U.S. and worldwide via some webinars. I hope you will join me at one or more of these and, as always, be sure to bring your questions.

The list of these presentations for 2016 is here.  I do still have open dates if your organization is in need of a speaker. Check under the Speaking tab on this page to see a list of my topics and more on my background in genealogy and history. I have been updating many of these and most will be tailored to include information related to the area in which they are presented.

Counties losing support for historical societies shows a lack of understanding

Paula Stuart-Warren  Historical Societies  2 Comments

Today’s Star-Tribune in the Twin Cities carried an interesting article. Interesting but sad and covering something that occurs too frequently in many places. The article “As counties tighten their belts, local historical societies hold their breath” told the story of some Minnesota county historical societies that have lost support funding from county commissioners.

One section of the story told what is too often the case. Brent Peterson, Executive Director of the Washington County Historical Society [and former member of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Genealogical Society], discussed the county’s loss of funding for the reason that “history was not a “core function of government” . . . “I actually asked the county attorney one day what a ‘core function’ is, and he laughed at me,” Peterson said. “He goes, ‘Whatever three of the five [commissioners] say is a core function.’?”

My response is that I have had to use historical records in more than one county to help one county gain clear title to the land on which its courthouse sat. In another case, I have used multiple counties’ records to help clear title to some right of way lands in a county. I have used the records from counties in several states in work for federal lawsuits. Other county and state level records of historical value are needed for many other personal, legal, and community reasons. The papers of those who helped create and settle our counties and states are needed in much research. The same goes for the papers of businesses

Gee, not in that set of core functions of government! I could give more examples but I will spare you the list. Talk to your county and town commissioners, supervisors, and state legislators. Heck, don’t forget your national legislators. The National Archives needs continued funding to help preserve this country’s historical records.

Additionally, these historical societies and archives bring researchers lodging, food, and other dollars to the community. I am in the midst of a week-long research trip to Wisconsin. I will have researched in 3 counties and we are enjoying both state and county level historical societies. Our credit cards are being used, too.

Read the full article here.

Recent accessions with a genealogy connection. Recent what?

Paula Stuart-Warren  Archives, Historical Societies, Manuscripts  Leave a comment

New-Sign--Arvin61r58-300pxAccessions? What is she talking about! I am talking about manuscripts, photos, books, maps, and other items recently or newly donated to or purchased by our great research repositories. These could be the county or state historical society, ethnic society, state archives, university special collections department or any other place we may go to do research. I am not talking about online databases and websites in this post. Why do you need to be aware of these recent accessions or acquisitions? Holy cow, simply because something might be related to or about your family.

Some repositories list recent accessions in their newsletters, blogs, or other publications, others on their website, or both. These are usually records that we aren’t going to see indexed or digitized online for a good long time. Listed below are some that I found on repository websites. I bet some research on your part will find collections you will be itching to get your hands on! Read the blogs, newsletters, and Facebook pages of such institutions on a regular basis. Do some online searching using the terms accessions, acquisitions, new, what’s new, recent and the name of a place or simply “historical society acquisitions”  or accessions. Listings from years past also serve to let us know what research gems these places hold.

  • Virginia Historical Society: Account book, 1858–66, of William D. Tucker (of Amherst County) concerning agricultural activities and financial affairs, along with records of marriages and deaths of neighbors and lists of enslaved persons. [186] p.: holograph; 12 x 7 1/2 in. Bound volume. Gift of Deborah Lumpkin Ferrell in the name of the Lumpkin family.
  • Minnesota State Archives: Waseca County. Docket (dated 1858-1868), registers of civil action (dated 1858-1944), defendant and plaintiff indexes (dated circa 1858-1939), index to marriage records [circa 1857-?], veterinary license record (dated 1937-1981), index to coroner’s certificates (dated 1955-1990) and coroner’s inquest file no. 205 (dated 1968) of the District Court; will books (dated 1972-1981) of the Probate Court; selective service record (dated 1941-1946) of the Selective Service Board; civil dockets (dated 1953-1974) of the City of Waseca Municipal Court. 17 boxes.
  • LancsterHistory.org: [PA] Slaugh family and furniture business records, 1880s-1953 Ledgers and records of the furniture business, 10 volumes. Letterhead of Henry Slaugh and billhead of Slaugh and Son. Photographs of Henry Slaugh, Sr. and Clara Slaugh; Dr. Joseph Houston. Gift of Nancy Slaugh Leech Mohr and Helena Louise Slaugh Freeburg, in memory of the Slaugh family MG-733,
  • Cornell University Rare & Manuscript Collections: On June 15, 2004 the Huntington Free Library’s American Indian Collection, located in the Bronx, NY, transferred its holdings to Cornell University Library. The Huntington collection, appraised at $8.3 million in 2001, contains more than 40,000 volumes on the archaeology, ethnology, and history of the native peoples of the Americas. The Huntington Free Library contains spectacular treasures that will provide students and scholars with a rich resource for the study of Native American cultures. Collection highlights include early printed books on travel and exploration containing accounts of encounters with native peoples; rare dictionaries of native American languages; an album of original drawings of American Indians by the artist George Catlin; field notes by 19th century ethnographers and papers of archaeological expeditions; an original manuscript peace treaty between the Delaware Nation and Johnson Hall; the Stockbridge Indian papers; the Joseph Keppler Iroquois Papers; and the papers of the Women’s National Indian Association.

 

Free webinar Wednesday, December 2 about the U.S. National Archives

Paula Stuart-Warren  National Archives, Webinars  Leave a comment
 One of the joys of research is touching the original records of our ancestral families. I have done this and also worked on microfilms of some records many times onsite at the U.S. National Archives locations in Washington, DC, College Park, MD, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Kansas City, MO, Denver, CO, San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA. No two locations are alike in many ways, but a big similarity is that they all have records just waiting for our family history searches.

Want to know more? Join me when I present a FREE Minnesota Genealogical Society webinar on Wednesday, December 2. “The U.S. National Archives: The Nation’s Attic” 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm, Central Time. http://goo.gl/3AnWXU

The webinar is FREE to everyone that night. After that, it will be on the MGS website for members only. If you are already a MGS members, you know about the lineup of webinars. Join now to gain access to the archived ones presented by experts from the U. S. and Canada.  www.mngs.org

 

Small Business Saturday includes family history businesses

Paula Stuart-Warren  Books, Conferences/Institutes, Professional Genealogists  Leave a comment

Some thoughts for today that is widely billed as Small Business Saturday, a day to support local, small, and in some cases, struggling businesses trying to stay afloat.

Have you hired a professional genealogist to consult on your family history or to do research for you? Have you hired that person to edit the family history you are writing? Maybe you had the person provide one-on-one assistance at a library, archive, courthouse, or historical society. What about sending in your reservation and payment for a genealogical institute, seminar, or a conference? The instructors at those events often are those with genealogy businesses. You may be waiting for a delivery of a book purchased from a genealogy book dealer or a genealogical society. Is there a website or blog that teaches you about other websites, research opportunities, or discusses the records?

Other small businesses in the area of genealogy include companies selling maps, charts, research trips, cruises, and research at a specific repository. Many of the historical societies and libraries we visit are small businesses.

Some of these are one-person businesses and that definitely qualifies as a small business. Others with several employees or volunteers are still a small business.

I wonder how many genealogists thought about these businesses on Small Business Saturday? Please support your fellow family history enthusiasts so that the services and supplies they offer will be around for a long time. Did you do something today to provide this support by ordering a service or some supply or book? The day isn’t over yet?

 

 

 

 

Discount on genealogy assistance — just 3 left for this Thanksgiving special

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

Only THREE left of this Thanksgiving Special! 

Read the full details on my research and assistance gift certificates and the $20 discount right here.

Any certificates purchased no later than the U.S. Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26, 2015 at midnight Central Time will get a special bonus savings of $20.00 for any 2 hour certificate purchase. Thus, the cost is only $80.00 for a 2 hour segment.

 

 

Findmypast.com discount code for Thanksgiving

Paula Stuart-Warren  findmypast.com, periodicals, PERSI  Leave a comment

Have you been thinking about a subscription to Findmypast.com? Now’s the time! How about a special Thanksgiving gift to yourself or for a family member or friend?

From now through 30 November 2015 you can get the World subscription at at 75% discount. The special code to use when paying is THNKSGNG15.

To learn more about Findmypast:

  • Click on Search to see all the record categories and to search in a specific category. This includes records from many countries.
  • The category of Newspapers and Periodical is where you will find Irish, British, and U.S. newspapers plus the PERiodical Source Index (PERSI). Oh, the gems in past periodicals found via PERSI.
  • Investigate the News tab to find the blog, Expert Tips, and much more.

Interested? Here’s where you subscribe.

Reserve hotel rooms now for the 2016 Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences/Institutes, Federation of Genealogical Societies, FGS, Illinois State Genealogical Society, Springfield  Leave a comment

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Today’s the day! It’s officially time to begin making your hotel reservations for the 2016 FGS conference. Anyone with an interest in family history is invited! The dates are 31 August – 1 September 2016 and the place is Springfield, Illinois. The host society is the Illinois State Genealogical Society.

Book your hotel today to learn genealogy in the Land of Lincoln and help us celebrate FGS’ 40th Anniversary! To learn more about the two large hotels (one across the street and one connected) visit www.fgsconference.org/

Watch the FGS website for more details. Springfield is welcoming FGS back with a massively renovated Prairie Capital Convention Center!

‪#‎FGS2016‬