Seminars & Webinars: 8 are members of the Federation of Genealogical Societies

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  , ,  Leave a comment

I love statistics and tonight I had a thought about the genealogical organizations for which I am doing webinars or in-person presentations in the upcoming months.  I checked and found that eight of the organizations are members of the Federation of Genealogical Societies. That’s an impressive number that understand the importance of having a strong organization by banding together for the good of all the groups and their members.

These eight member societies are the Minnesota Genealogical Society, 3M Genealogy Club, Ohio Genealogical Society, Iowa Genealogical Society, Rochester Genealogical Society [NY], Southern California Genealogical Society, Anchorage Genealogical Society, and the Utah Genealogical Association. Congratulations to the boards of these organizations for continuing this relationship. (more…)

Attention Genealogists? Are You Shortchanging Your Family History?

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  ,  Leave a comment

It’s a common theme. I am a guilty party, too. Not on all of these, but partially on some. Are you?

  • Saying you have a brick wall because you have been looking everywhere online for info about a certain family member. It’s not a “brick wall” unless you have also been to every possible archive, courthouse, library, historical society or other repository and gone through all the great materials that are not digitized or even indexed. Yes, we need lots of time and a few lottery winning tickets but the answer might be out there.
  • Adding names to your family tree because Great Aunt Mary said her grandfather’s name was Samuel James Griffin? [If you had researched further you would have found out that apparently he went by the name Sam, but was christened as James Anthony Griffin. Sam? Who knows. My own mother often called my oldest son Sam and my daughter Sarah. Neither were their given or middle names. She was being “cute.”
  • Have you studied and studied and studied each document you have found? Have you typed it to help get every word into an easily read format? It’s also a way to get it ingrained in your brain!
  • What about sharing some of your research issues with another genealogist? Join a genealogical society to find like-minded individuals.
  • Do you know the origin of each document that is in your file folders either in the file cabinet or on your computer? If you have to revisit that part of the research to obtain something else could you find it again? It might be a probate file that you didn’t completely copy two years ago but now think that another of the pages in the file would be helpful. Why aren’t you citing all your sources including exactly where you found the item?

(more…)

Paula’s Speaking Calendar Page Updated

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

Tonight I am creating some new lecture handouts and I also updated the Speaking Calendar page on this website. I try to make sure it is updated and includes a live link to the organization that has hired me to present at their event. Some are webinars and others are in-person presentations. I love the interaction with audiences at all these events.

At the bottom of the main “Speaking” page is the contact link if you have any questions or if your organization is interested in my seminar or webinar services. I have others in progress but that are not yet under contract, so the date may already be taken.

Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, week 2 registration very soon

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  ,  Leave a comment

It’s time to think about summer. It can’t come fast enough for me. Summer means the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. It’s a week of courses to help advance your family history knowledge, methodology, and circle of genealogy colleagues.

I am coordinating the intermediate course again. It is offered during the second week of GRIP, July 19-24, 2015, in Pittsburgh at LaRoche College.

The course is “Intermediate Genealogy: Tools for Digging Deeper.” I teach most of the sessions but am joined by Debbie Mieszala, CG, and D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS for several of the classes. We have developed a series of classes (more…)

Federation of Genealogical Societies/Rootstech joint conference notes

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  ,  Leave a comment

It was a great but overpowering week in Salt Lake City. It began with the FGS board meeting (I am on the Board of Directors), a partial day of research at the Family History Library, and then the explosion of presentations, people, talking, volunteering and more. The excitement was palpable. The throngs of people were constant. The bagpipes in the Expo Hall on Thursday evening brought tears to my eyes. The reconnection with people I met years ago was satisfying. The time spent with friends was wonderful. Yes, a great time. FGS conferences always do this for me.

I presented 3 lectures. All were recorded and will soon be available along with the presentations of many other FGS (more…)

NHPRC Historical preservation grants of 2.2 million is of benefit to genealogists, too!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  ,  Leave a comment

The press release below just arrived in my email inbox. 2.2 million is wonderful but hopefully NHPRC is kept functioning and with sufficient funds to continue more projects before more history is lost.

National Archives Awards $2.2 Million in Grants for Historical Records Projects

Washington, DC…Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero today awarded 35 grants and one cooperative agreement totaling $2,186,024 to projects being undertaken in 27 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. The National Archives grants program is carried out through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). A complete list of new grants is online http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2015/nr15-43.html.

Publishing grants totaling nearly $960,000 went to eight publishing projects from the U.S. Colonial and Early (more…)

Library call slips fading away!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Libraries, Newberry Library  ,  1 Comment

It’s a love/hate relationship. I love the ease of library computer catalogs. However, I do miss thumbing through drawers of 3×5 catalog cards. I always seemed to find some obscure item to view. I have never loved filling out call slips for books, manuscripts, or archival materials. Some are more complicated than others.

As of May, no longer will we have to fill out call slips for materials at the Newberry Library in Chicago. I love technology that simplifies my research life. Find a book or something described in a finding aid from the Newberry? Many of these items will have a quick link to request the item. Extensive planning and requests will be accomplished while sipping a cup of hot tea at your own desk.

Read the Newberry’s blog for more info and keep reading as the time nears. http://www.newberry.org/call-slips-slipping-away?page=0

 

All packed for the combined FGS and RootsTech conferences?

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized  2 Comments

fgs_Logo_conf_v05Seasoned conference attendees have pretty much perfected their conference packing list. I want to share a few items that might not be on your list. Some apply to those traveling from a distance and others will also help those who live near Salt Lake City. The number of days till family historians convene at the Salt Palace Convention Center is going down quite fast!

  • a couple clothespins to keep hotel room drapes shut or to close a bag of snacks
  • snacks for between lectures
  • comfortable shoes (2 pair so one can rest for a day)
  • laundry bag
  • extra bag for purchases in the Expo Hall (if flying home, carry on your purchases, and put the dirty laundry in the extra bag
  • sweater or lightweight jacket in case a lecture hall is chilly
  • throat lozenges or hard candies in case you get a scratchy throat
  • chargers and a power strip for phones, tablets, and computers
  • account passwords
  • business cards so others can find you after the conference. Add the surnames you are searching
  • return address labels for door prize drawing tickets. I print my own and add email and phone
  • extra hand lotion and lip balm because the air is quite dry in Salt Lake City
  • hotel reservation confirmation
  • water bottle that doesn’t leak and that can be refilled during the week
  • don’t forget to bring any over the counter or prescription medications

(more…)

Summertime genealogy submersion in air conditioned comfort!

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized    Leave a comment

I suppose that a lot of people in the Northeastern part of the U. S. are already wishing it was summer as they are battening down the hatches for a major snowfall. Now it’s time to think about more genealogy learning this coming summer. In air-conditioned comfort with dorm rooms just steps away from the classroom building and cafeteria. Even better on a warm day is to indulge in a cup of ice cream. You may choose from several flavors each day. Five days of great learning, eating meals with others who understand why you get excited about family history, and there is that ice cream!

Where is all this taking place? GRIP logo

As the official press release says, “The Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) is a very popular “summer camp for genealogists” that is held on the campus of La Roche College, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Last year 205 students from 40 states and 3 countries attended seven classes in Pittsburgh. Having fun while learning about genealogy in the company of friends and like-minded classmates is why students return year after year. Not to mention the course coordinators and instructors who are tops in the field! GRIP is happy to provide two separate (more…)

Last days to save $30 on FGS Conference registration

Paula Stuart-Warren  Uncategorized    Leave a comment

The conference begins in just 3 weeks. 3 weeks! That means the early registration deadline is fast approaching. Register on January 24th and it will cost you $30 more than on January 20, 21, 22, and 23. In other words, if you aren’t yet registered, do it now. https://www.fgsconference.org/registration/

For the February 11-14 event, speakers are updating their presentations, conference volunteers are working on many things, and the excitement of an educational genealogy conference is growing. Plus the location of the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City is about a block from the Family History Library. I will be there a few (more…)