Minnesota websites for genealogical and historical research: Part 3

Paula Stuart-Warren  Historical Societies, Libraries, Minnesota  Leave a comment

This is Part 3 of an ongoing  series of posts about great online resources from historical societies and libraries 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.

Hennepin County Library, Central Library, Minneapolis, MN
The Minneapolis Collection manuscripts collection, located in Special Collections at Minneapolis Central Library, has a list and descriptions of these:
Personal papers https://apps.hclib.org/collections/personalarchives.cfm
Clubs & Organizations Annotated Index https://goo.gl/AI2yXI

Otter Tail County Historical Society, Fergus Falls, MN
Multi index search http://otchs.org/ot_search.php
Cemetery search www.otchs.org/ot_search_cem.php

St. Cloud State University, Central Minnesota Historical Center, St. Cloud, MN
Guide to manuscripts and other materials held in the center  http://goo.gl/5VWbb8

Carver County Historical Society, Waconia, MN
Newspaper/Resource Search http://goo.gl/0UBTsh

July 8th: a special Irish genealogy gift for my birthday this year

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  Leave a comment

Today’s press release from Ireland stated that on July 8th I will receive a special birthday gift! Well, those aren’t the exact words of the press release. However, I know that it was scheduled for that day just for my birthday!

As the press release stated:

“National Library of Ireland Announces Launch Date for New Online Genealogy Resource
– Almost 400,000 images of Catholic parish register microfilms to be available online for free from 8th July 2015 –
The entire collection of Catholic parish register microfilms held by the National Library of Ireland (NLI) will be made available online – for free – from 8th July 2015 onwards. On that date, a dedicated website will go live, with over 390,000 digital images of the microfilm reels on which the parish registers are recorded.”
Ireland map

Read the full press release on the National Library of Ireland’s website.

I am already making my list of what I will be looking for in those parish records. Let’s see, the counties I know for sure are Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Cavan, Leitrim, and Donegal. Cork is a maybe. Now to list all the individual surnames, Bowler, Cauley, Cook, Fee, Fitzgerald, Green, Griffin, Hanley, Keegan, Laughlin, O’Donnell, McAndrew, Moriarty, Ryan, Rowan, Walsh, Welch, and others to be discovered.

Genealogists: You could win a scholarship to SLIG 2016

Paula Stuart-Warren  Family History Library, Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, SLIG  Leave a comment

Would you like to win a scholarship that covers the tuition cost to attend the 11-15 January 2016 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG)? The 2016 edition offers 13 courses. The scholarship enables you to choose any one of the courses. SLIG takes place a couple blocks from the Family History Library. Talk about convenient! I am the coordinator of the Resources and Strategies for Intermediate U.S. Research course at SLIG.

From SLIG:

The Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, sponsored by the Utah Genealogical Association, is pleased to announce that essay entries for the Jimmy B. Parker Essay Scholarship are now being accepted.

The scholarship recipient will receive full tuition to the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2016. The scholarship will be awarded to the individual whose essay and application reflect a commitment to genealogical excellence and (more…)

Official census enumeration dates: the law and Minnesota

Paula Stuart-Warren  census, Minnesota, Native American  2 Comments

It’s important to check the official date of each census year. If the official date of the census was to be 1 June, then a person that died on May 15 should not be included. Nor should a child born on 5 June. Seasoned researchers know that no matter the laws, guidelines, rules, or whatever for any record, there are often non-compliant entries.

Researchers with Minnesota families are fortunate in that once it became a state, several state enumerations were put into place by the state legislature. (There are earlier territorial level censuses.) These are wonderful for filling in the time period between the federal censuses and help to fill the void of most of the 1890 federal census. The official dates of the Minnesota state censuses were:

  • 1865: 1 June
  • 1875: 1 May
  • 1885: 1 May
  • 1895: 1 June
  • 1905: 1 June

 

The laws for each year made it clear about the when, who, and how of the enumeration.

For example, read the 1875 act here (Chapter 137, pages 161-162) for free on the website of the Minnesota Office of (more…)

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

2015banner-jamboearly1

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…)