Columbia Heights and Hilltop, Minnesota: once in a county that is no more

Paula Stuart-Warren  Minnesota  Leave a comment

I love to learn about and/or visit ghost towns, counties that no longer exist, and the majestic buildings (or former sites) that were demolished for “progress.”

Minnesota has a former county that was home to several towns. Sarah Given will explore the history of Columbia Heights and Hilltop, Minnesota, at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Columbia Heights Public Library, 820 40th Av. NE. I wish I could attend, but I will be lecturing in New York on that day.

Why do I wish I could attend?

Once upon a time, there was Manomin County, Minnesota. It was situated between Hennepin and Anoka counties. It didn’t last long and a timeline of the changes is too long to post today. According to a recent article “Too small to survive on its own, that little dog tail of land that is now Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Fridley and Spring Lake Park (more…)

Umlautgate. What is the “ö” in Lindström?

Paula Stuart-Warren  Minnesota  2 Comments

Yes, cousin Dave is correct. He reminded me in a comment on my earlier post that it wasn’t an umlaut. The “ö ” in Lindström, Minnesota is not really an umlaut. It actually has no name. It’s a special letter.

The media headlines needed something to call it. Maybe drafting a German term to fill that position was a mistake. The news of the umlaut being restored to the sign for Lindstrom, Minnesota spread around the world.

Today, Minnesota Public Radio agreed with Dave: “Postscript: Um, it’s not an umlaut” and you may read the story here on MPR’s website.

Maybe I should give my previous post a new title “Lindstrom has the two dots back.”

I bow to Dave. After all, I respect my elders and he is my elder. Yes, by only six weeks, but he gotz mor educashun. He has family pictures I don’t have. Love you, cuz!

 

4 days of genealogy Jamboree in Southern California in June

Paula Stuart-Warren  Conferences, Jamboree  Leave a comment

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It’s always smart to pre-register for a genealogy event and even smarter to do so when the early-bird discount is still in effect. Thus, I am reminding you to register no later than April 30th for the 2015 Southern California Genealogical Society (SCGS) Jamboree. Jamboree is always a fantastic event attended by people from all over the U.S., Canada, and usually some other countries that travel to Burbank, California. It’s the 46th Jamboree.

If you are a SCGS member there is even more of a discount. Join me and many others for the Jamboree (June 5-7) and Genetic Genealogy: DNA Day Plus!(June 4) Hint: register for Jamboree and the DNA day and get a discount on the whole shebang!

As SCGS says, “You don’t want to miss this year’s Jamboree. It’s going to be an incredible event with a great array of speakers, exhibitors, social events, and a few surprises.”

Luncheons, banquets, dozens of speakers, exhibit hall, tech zone with subscription database accessibility, consultations, and more.

Learn the details and register at http://genealogyjamboree.com

Summer genealogy learning in comfort at GRIP

Paula Stuart-Warren  Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, GRIP  Leave a comment

It’s only three months till Debbie Mieszala, Josh Taylor, and I will be standing in front of a roomful of genealogists that will be learning more intermediate level genealogy.  This is the 4th year I have coordinated this Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) course. Not quite at the intermediate level yet? We will guide you along in between classes. Beyond the intermediate level but need a refresher? We will reopen your eyes and mind during the week.

The cafeteria andGRIP logo the classroom are in the same building and are  air-conditioned. Right outside the cafeteria is a great space for gathering, reading your syllabus, or meeting new friends. The dorms are the next building and it’s a 1 minute or less walk.  Get a roommate and have dorm fun. Yes, they are dorms, but the price is right and to be that close to Edit (more…)

Ancestry.com adds Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940

Paula Stuart-Warren  Ancestry, Ancestry.com, Church records, Religion  Leave a comment

A collection now digitized and on Ancestry.com may prevent me from cleaning house on Monday.  I had heard these records held by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) were in the process of being digitized. I regularly check the “New Records” section on my main Ancestry page and shouldn’t have done so right now since I should be in bed! Records from 2000 churches!

Sleep is underrated. As the Ancestry search page for just this collection states: “This collection contains baptism, confirmation, marriage, and burial records from more than 2,000 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations. The records range from the mid-19th century through the early 20th century. The information contained in the records varies from congregation to congregation (and sometimes from minister to minister). In some ethnic congregations, you may run into records in German, Danish, or some other language.”

Read the full description here: http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60722

If you need me, be prepared to wait!

 

 

Umlauts matter in genealogy and in Lindström, Minnesota

Paula Stuart-Warren  Family, Minnesota, Uncategorized  7 Comments

Umlaut: a mark placed over the top of a vowel to indicate a specific pronunciation.

I see the use of umlauts in my Swedish and German research. Minnesota Department of Transportation sign rules meant the lack of the umlaut over the “o” for a sign in the town of Lindström, Minnesota. This caused a furor in the town and apparently across the country as the story spread in the media.

The umlauts are back on the Lindström highway sign due to Governor Mark Dayton issuing an executive order. Apparently he knows his pronunciation nuances. (more…)

Next Up: Rochester (NY) Genealogical Society April 25

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

What are you doing on April 25th? If you are in the area of Rochester, New York, why not join me and the Rochester Genealogical Society for a day-long event. I will be presenting four lectures:

  • Developing Successful Research Habits
  • The WPA Era: What It Created for Genealogists
  • Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Research
  • New York State Research: The Changing Face of the Modern Era

RGS members may attend for FREE! Non-members may register for the full day for $25. Even better, join RGS for just $20. What a deal!

Visit the RGS website for details and to register: http://nyrgs.org/

 

The NEW Ancestry Academy has 15 educational courses!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Ancestry, Ancestry.com  1 Comment

Ancestry Academy has launched!

I am privileged to be among the first instructors for Ancestry Academy. Choose from 15 courses to enhance your genealogical education. This is just the beginning for this new venture of Ancestry.com.

These courses enable you to learn at your own pace. The sessions may be started, stopped, reviewed, and then do it all over until you have grabbed every detail. Many of the courses have additional information that is found when you begin a course. Look for a book symbol in the upper right hand corner and click on that for a handout, more (more…)

Minnesota websites for genealogical and historical research: Part 2

Paula Stuart-Warren  Indexes, Minnesota, Newspaper Indexes, Repositories, Research, Uncategorized  Leave a comment

I am challenging myself to discover these and other links. The historical societies, libraries, and archives I mention in this series also have fantastic in-house resources for researchers.