My Ancestry DNA pie chart. Irish is the highest group.

Paula Stuart-Warren  DNA, Family  4 Comments

I have done DNA testing with Ancestry.com and FamilyTreeDNA. These show I am more Irish than anything. That’s not a surprise. I know that these estimates could change as the number of people tested grows. I have a bombed ancestral church, a church that neglected to keep records for a number of years, and some other quirks, so I appreciate these estimates.  My research to this point shows that I am truly a mixture of backgrounds. Of my 16 great great grandparents, only 7 came to the U.S., 2 to Lower Canada, and 1 was born in French Canada and may have come to the U.S. Of course, the research on all of them is ongoing. I want to know more about each individual.

Paternal Great Great Grandparents

These eight ancestors were born in Scotland, Scotland, Germany, Germany, Denmark, Denmark, Sweden, and Sweden

Maternal Great Great Grandparents

These eight ancestors were born in Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, French Canada (definitely French), and the last great great grandmother is 1/2 English and the other half may be German.

Ancestry.com shows:  (The FTDNA results are in the post above this one)

Ancestry DNA estimate pie chartAncestry DNA list

When is the last time you were a tick mark? It serves many purposes.

Paula Stuart-Warren  Archives, Family History Library, Libraries  2 Comments

I am at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City for several days. There are still some open seats here for you. The microfilm readers and computers are busy. I see many people pouring through books that are not yet digitized. It feels good to be back here.

When is the last time you visited a library, historical society or archive? I know some readers may be house-bound and frustrated that you can’t get out, but for the rest of you, you are missing some great research.

An in-person research visit does serve a variety of purposes:

  • You find materials that are not online (and may never be!). It might be a book, film, or a file folder of family information.
  • You become a tick mark on the patron count that shows those in charge the repository is still viable. This even means the little local history room in the rural county library. It can affect funding or even keeping it open.
  • You view your research in a different setting. Often that leads to more research ideas, perhaps a breakthrough.
  • You might discuss some research with someone sitting across the table from you and make a new genealogy friend. Heck, that person may even have a connection to your Carpenter family back in Pennsylvania.
  • No buzzer tells you to take the laundry out of the dryer.

Where are you going this week or next? I challenge each reader to research at a library, courthouse, archive, or historical society at least once a month. I will update you on my research visits in a few months. We need to keep these places open, accessible to researchers, and well-funded. Be a tick mark.

Presenting at 4 genealogy seminars in 5 weeks: MN, AR, AK, and IL

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences, Conferences/Institutes, Uncategorized  5 Comments

Those state abbreviations in the title are listed for two reasons. First, to test you! Many people use AK for Arkansas, but AK is Alaska and AR is Arkansas. Second, I will be in those four states on weekends near each other this fall. I guess Minnesota is a bit different because that is where I live!

September 25-26, Minnesota Genealogical Society North Star Conference
Friday, Sept. 25: at MGS facilities, South St. Paul
Saturday, Sept. 26: at Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights
I will be presenting each day along with several others. David Rencher, AG, CG is the featured speaker
Detailed Brochure: http://goo.gl/GbtG77

October 2-3, Arkansas Genealogical Society Fall Seminar
North Little Rock, Arkansas, Wyndham Hotel
I am presenting four sessions on Saturday. Other speakers are featured on Friday evening. It’s the 50th Anniversary of the AGS!
Details: www.agsgenealogy.org/seminar

October 10, Anchorage Genealogical Society Fall Seminar
Anchorage, Alaska, Change Point Church
Alaska is the 49th state and it will be my 49th state to visit!
Details: http://goo.gl/Quy5tR

October 23rd & 24th, Illinois State Genealogical Society Fall Conference
Oak Lawn, Illinois, Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn
I am the featured speaker on Saturday and the conference also has other speakers.
Details: http://goo.gl/PFRjLA

FREE genealogy database news for Labor Day weekend

Paula Stuart-Warren  Ancestry.com, New England Historic Genealogical Society  Leave a comment

A few tidbits that are really nice to know about. I already found one family will in the FREE Ancestry offering. It’s the will of Gottried Rohr of Watertown, Wisconsin. He is my Great Great Great Step Grandfather. He married my Maria (Kuschke) Fischer in Germany after her husband died.

  1. From the New England Historic Genealogical Society’s free The Weekly Genealogist: “In commemoration of Labor Day, American Ancestors and NEHGS offer a week of FREE access to some of our most popular American Ancestors databases. In these resources containing census, tax, and voter list information, you might just find your ancestors diligently at work. Register as a FREE Guest User on AmericanAncestors.org and enjoy making new discoveries about your family history–where, unfortunately, the work is never done. Available through Wednesday, September 9, at americanancestors.org/laborday.”
  2. Ancestry.com has added more wills and related information. From its Facebook page: “Ancestry has launched the largest online collection of wills and probate records in the United States, with more than 170 million pages and searchable records included from all 50 states spread over 337 years (1668-2005). This unprecedented collection launches a new category of records for family history research never before available online at this scale the United States. Search this new collection for your ancestors today thru September 7th FREE: http://ancstry.me/1Vwe2oR”  Read the article by Juliana Szucs for some neat examples http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2015/09/02/u-s-probates-are-here/

Please remember that these are great opportunities and have extensive information but that not everything from everywhere is included. That applies to other databases, too. We still need to use records on microfilm, at courthouses, state archives, and other places to discover all our family records.

A cemetery in California adapts to the 21st century

Paula Stuart-Warren  Cemetery, Family, Slaker  1 Comment

The 700 acre Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California, is joining in on saving water. According to an article in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Rose Hills once required 293 million gallons of potable water a year, as much used in several cities. The article further states:

“On Wednesday, the cemetery put an end to irrigating lawns with drinking water. Thanks to a change in state law prompted by the drought, Rose Hills will use 100 percent recycled water on its sprawling grounds and in decorative fountains by the end of the year, saving enough drinking water for 2,000 to 3,000 homes.”

Rose Hills is a pretty cemetery. It was lush and green the last time I visited in 2002. This visit and even pictures are the work of a woman I met while teaching at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Shirley Calton became a good friend and scoped out the burial locations in advance of taking me to the cemetery.

I am happy to see that a way has been found to keep it as green as possible. This article caught my eye because many of my Slaker collateral line relatives are buried there.  My Great Grandmother Emma Slaker, wife of James Stuart is my connection to these Slakers. They all began their U.S. life in Wisconsin with later time in Illinois and Minnesota. The Slaker brothers Louis and Fred moved their families to Southern California early in the 20th century.

Read the full August 18th article here.

 

 

Minnesota websites for genealogical & historical research: Part 6

Paula Stuart-Warren  Minnesota  Leave a comment

This is Part 6 of my ongoing series of posts about great online resources from historical societies, archives, libraries, and other places around Minnesota. Don’t forget to check the websites of these organizations for lists, catalogs, and finding aids that tell you about the other extensive research resources that need to be used in person.  You will be astounded at all that is available both online and in these places.

 

City of Minneapolis Archives: The Minneapolis City Clerk’s Office, with the assistance of the Urban Scholars summer internship program, has digitized many historic images and materials.  This is an ongoing project. https://www.flickr.com/photos/mplsarchives

 

Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota, Lutheran Church Archives: finding aids for congregational histories, biographical files regarding clergy and church leaders, and microfilmed church records (ending about 1930). https://gustavus.edu/library/archives/LCA/

 

Minnesota County Maps: www.dot.state.mn.us/maps/gdma/maps-county-alpha.html

 
To view Parts 1-5 scroll down the right hand side of this page to Categories and click on Minnesota.

 

UW-Superior acquires massive shipyard collection

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

The Jim Dan Hill Library at the University of Wisconsin-Superior now has a unique collection. The university won a $50,000 National Maritime Heritage Grant to preserve thousands of documents from Fraser Shipyards, Inc. of Superior.

According to the Duluth [MN] News Tribune, among the “3,000 technical drawings, 8,500 aperture card negatives and several boxes of correspondences and reports” are the “working design documents and blueprints of such well-known vessels as the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

Don’t get too excited yet. The collection will take about 18 month to fully catalog the entire collection that spans 125 years of the company.

Interested in more information? Read the full story in the August 16, 2015 Duluth News Tribune.

The University has more history of the company and details of some available material here.

Minnesota Genealogical Society North Star Conference Sept. 25-26

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

Two days of superb learning, talking with others interested in family history, door prizes, and more. David Rencher, Chief Genealogical Officer of FamilySearch is the keynote speaker. Other speakers are presenting workshops and lectures during the two days.

Full details are on the Minnesota Genealogical Society website. Register soon to guarantee your spot. Click on the Register button and you will see a link to the full brochure.

Later in September, all registrants will receive the link to the online syllabus of handouts for each session. Don’t forget to print out the ones for the sessions you plan to attend.

I will see on September 25-26 right here in the Twin Cities. I am presenting 3 sessions.

 

Free webinar Aug 12: Your Society Can’t Afford to Do A Seminar? Here’s How!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

Your Society Can’t Afford to Do A Seminar? Here’s How!

Education is the core of our societies. A seminar could bring new members, volunteers, and funding for projects. In this webinar, I will share ways be successful financially once guidelines are established and followed. It could bring recognition from the community if done correctly. Most groups can truly afford to bring in a well-known and knowlFGS-color-logo-with-Redgeable speaker and plan a great seminar. We’ll cover these and other angles in this presentation. Do the job carefully, make notes, learn from issues, and be ready for a profitable sell-out event. It’s ok to make a profit to support the society’s education efforts and to pay your speakers adequately for their hard work. The webinar and handout include many practical tips.

 

The Federation of Genealogical Societies offers free webinars. I am presenting the one mentioned above on Wednesday. August 12, 2015 at 8:00 pm EDT, 7 CDT, 6 MDT, 5 PDT. This presentation also includes a free four page detailed handout for those joining the webinar that evening.  Registration information is on the FGS blog The Voice at http://goo.gl/IisBor

FGS also offers these webinars for free a few weeks after the date. Then the webinars are archived as a special benefit for FGS member societies to view anytime on the FGS website