SLIG & Halloween mean 10% savings. Plus the Family History Library!

It might be Halloween, but more importantly for genealogists, it's the last day to save at least 10% on registration for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Mark 13-17 January 2014 on your calendar and then visit www.slig.ugagenealogy.org. to register. Several courses still have open spots.

Still thinking about registering? Do it today and save money. Join the sponsor society, the Utah Genealogical Association, and save even more. Don't forget that the Family History Library is there, too! I hope to see you in Course 1, American Research and Records. I coordinate this course. The consultations and private computer lab will all take place at the Family History Library. All regular classes take place at the Radisson Hotel.

Instructors:
Debra Mieszala CG
Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FUGA, FMGS
D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS,

This intermediate level course provides in-depth learning on 19th-21st century U.S. resources and the methodology for using them. The 2014 course focuses on topics more related to researching families and individuals. Informative and interactive classroom hours delve into significant records and strategies that take you beyond basic research tools both online and off. On-site FHL library support and a computer lab from course instructors provide one-on-one assistance and guidance with your own research. This course alternates years with a course focused on localities. Prerequisites: experience researching in a variety of repositories, familiarity with FamilySearch.org and other websites, and previous class room learning related to family history. 

The full lineup appears on the SLIG website. www.slig.ugagenealogy.org

The Minnesota Genealogical Society Co-Sponsors Hennepin County Library Family History Fair

Join us Saturday, October 26 at Minneapolis Central Library from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for the 4th annual Hennepin County Library Family History Fair.

Nationally known Minnesota genealogist, Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA, starts off the day with a keynote address, Check it Out! Public Library "Musts" for Genealogists.

Paula's talk is followed by three rounds of short breakout sessions presented by local genealogists.  Breakout round 1 features Finding Family in the Federal Census from Lois Abromitis Mackin and Faith

Minnesota Historical Society website and preservation

The Minnesota Historical Society's website has many great features. I have blogged about some of these. Scroll down the right side of this blog to see the index to past posts.

One of the important sections is "Preserve Your Family Treasures" which I have found to be quite helpful. The topics discussed are oral histories, letters and papers, organizing family papers, photographs, metals, and textiles.


Click here to learn more about taking care of your family artifacts and history.

Your story could be on Genealogy Roadshow!

I hope you have watched the first three episodes of Genealogy Roadshow that have been on PBS. The fourth show is this Monday evening, October 14. It's been an interesting series. Of course, it's not directed at any of us who are truly experienced researchers but it does feature interesting stories and people. Hundreds of research hours happened behind the scenes to prove or disprove the stories handed down in families. I hope that viewers not previously bitten by the genealogy bug are thinking about their own family details and about possible research. It's like Antiques Roadshow in that it has short sequences that give an overview of the story and research result. Our family stories may not end up being worth thousands of dollars like some of the antiques, but are probably more valuable in our hearts.

Maybe your own family story would be of interest to the producers as they work on a second season? Now's the time to submit it. 

Click here to access the submission form. The website states "the Expert genealogists will uncover rich and surprising history about the people and places that make up our incredibly diverse and fascinating country."

I have to admit I have enjoyed seeing my friends Josh and Kenyatta as the hosts and have recognized several colleagues in the audiences.

FGS Announces 3 free webinars for organizations

The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) has announced three upcoming free webinars for those involved in genealogical and historical societies.

George G. Morgan, President of Aha! Seminars, Inc. and VP of Membership for FGS, will present a three-part webinar series on genealogy society membership and communication.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013, 8:00-9:00 pm EDT
The Shape of the 21st Century Genealogical Society
We've come a long way as genealogical and historical societies. New technologies such as blogs, print-on-demand publishing, Facebook, Twitter, mobile phone apps, podcasts, webinars, and others have drastically changed what we can do for our societies. This session discusses how the modern society can

Genealogy writing awards announcement from ISFHWE

Do you write articles for your genealogical society publication? Maybe you are a blogger or write a genealogy column for the local historical society or newspaper. The International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE) reminds writers IN ALL MEDIA including magazines, newspapers, journals, websites, and blogs that the 2014 Excellence-in-Writing Competition is now open for entries through 15 June 2014.

The competition is open to both MEMBERS and NON-MEMBERS of ISFHWE; both published and non-published authors may enter (see category list on the website). A new category of poetry has been added. Members of ISFHWE receive a discount on the entry fee.

The awards presentations for the various categories will take place during the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in San Antonio, 27-30 August 2014. Some of the awards include a cash prize.

Click here for full details.

Minnesota Historical Society Tuesday a.m. research hours restored

A big change arrives at the Minnesota History Center in a couple days. Starting on Tuesday, October 1, 2014, Tuesday morning research library hours are restored.

The new hours:

• Tuesday: 9 am - 8 pm
• Wed-Sat: 9 am - 4 pm
• Sunday & Monday: Closed

Click here to learn more about this great research facility.

SLIG intermediate genealogy course desctipion

I spent some time today working on syllabus material for the 2014 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. Lots of new information to add. The very last thing for this course syllabus will be verifying all the URLs just before I send it to the syllabus coordinator at the end of November. The 2014 SLIG runs from January 13-17, 2014. Plan to be there a bit early to meet me and the other instructors for this course, Josh Taylor, and Debbie Mieszala, at the welcoming reception on Sunday evening, January 12. The syllabus will be distributed that evening and you also get the opportunity to meet others in this and other courses.

2014 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy
Course I, Intermediate Level, 
American Research and Records: Focus on Families

This intermediate level course provides in-depth learning on 19th-21st century U.S. resources and the methodology for using them. The 2014 course focuses on topics more related to researching families and individuals. Informative and interactive classroom hours delve into significant records and strategies that take you beyond basic research tools both online and off. On-site FHL library support and a computer lab from course instructors provide one-on-one assistance and guidance with your own research. This course alternates years with a course focused on localities. Prerequisites: experience researching in a variety of repositories, familiarity with FamilySearch.org and other websites, and previous class room learning related to family history.

To learn more and to register http://www.infouga.org/aem.php?lv=p&epg=51

Family Roots Publishing offer through September 26!

''Purchase $50 in product and get FREE USA shipping!. This offer ends at midnight MDT, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013. All items on the website are included, including Flip-Pal mobile scanners, software, books, maps, and supplies."

Click here to take advantage of this offer from Leland Meitzler! 

Genealogy Roadshow on Twin Cities Public Television

If your PBS station is Twin Cities Public Television you get the first chance to watch the premiere of Genealogy Roadshow on Monday, September 23, at 8:00 p.m. CDT. We will have three opportunities to watch the show each week.

I was in the audience at the August Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference in Fort Wayne when we were privileged to view a 5 minute preview of the show. I think it will be a pretty dramatic and fun show. Two friends of mine, Josh Taylor and Kenyatta Berry, are the on-air experts. 

Click here for the full lineup and days to view the four programs on TPT.  Not familiar with this new show? Click here to learn more.

5 bits of recent genealogy news for 2013 and beyond

The world is full of genealogy news in the last several days.

1. Who Do You Think You Are?" has been renewed for a second season on TLC! See the news release on Variety!
   
2. FamilySearch and Ancestry.com recently announced a joint agreement to begin a 5-year effort to digitize and index more than 1 billion records from around the world. Read more here.
   
3. There is still time to register for the The Minnesota Genealogical Society’s October 4-5, 2013 “6th Annual North Star 2013 Family History Conference.” It features Steve Luxenberg
   Steve, a Washington Post associate editor, who wrote Annie's Ghosts: A Journey Into a Family Secret plus many breakout sessions with other great speakers. Click here for details.
    
4.  Spots are still available in several courses at the week-long Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, January 12-17, 2013. The early bird savings ends October 31st.  Click here for more details. The American Records intermediate course which I coordinate has some very special components including one-on-one consultations, hands-on computer session, and some surprises that you won't find out about until the classes begin!
   
5. CNN.com reposted a story from Real Simple magazine that talks about the growing interest in family history searching. You may recognize the name of the experts the author consulted, including my friend, Cyndi Ingle Howells of Cyndislist.com.
   

Ancestry.com and FamilySearch partnership

Just in case you didn't see this news yesterday, here is a press release from Lou Szucs at Ancestry.com:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANCESTRY.COM AND FAMILYSEARCH TO MAKE A BILLION GLOBAL RECORDS AVAILABLE ONLINE

Groundbreaking Agreement to Deliver Valuable Historical Content Over the Next Five Years

PROVO, Utah, September 5, 2013 – Ancestry.com and FamilySearch International (online at FamilySearch.org), the two largest providers of family history resources, announced today an agreement that is expected to make approximately 1 billion global historical records available online and more easily accessible to the public for the first time. With this long-term strategic agreement, the two services will work together with the archive community over the next five years to digitize, index and publish these records from the FamilySearch vault.

The access to the global collection of records marks a major investment in international content as Ancestry.com continues to invest in expanding family history interest in its current markets and worldwide. Ancestry.com expects to invest more than $60 million over the next five years in the project alongside thousands of hours of volunteer efforts facilitated by FamilySearch.

“This agreement sets a path for the future for Ancestry.com and FamilySearch to increasingly share international sets of records more collaboratively,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of Ancestry.com. “A significant part of our vision for family history is helping provide a rich, engaging experience on a global scale. We are excited about the opportunities it will bring to help benefit the family history community and look forward to collaborating with FamilySearch to identify other opportunities to help people discover and share their family history.”

The organizations will also be looking at other ways to share content across the two organizations. Both organizations expect to add to the already digitized records shared across the two websites in addition to new record projects to be completed over the next five years.

"We are excited to work with Ancestry.com on a vision we both share," said Dennis Brimhall, President of FamilySearch. "Expanding online access to historical records through this type of collaboration can help millions more people discover and share their family's history."

This marks a groundbreaking agreement between the two services. But the two organizations aren’t strangers to working with each other; hundreds of millions of records have already been shared and are available on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. The companies also announced in early 2013 an additional project where they plan to publish 140 million U.S. Wills & Probate images and indexes over the next three years—creating a national database of wills and other probate documents spanning 1800-1930 online for the very first time.

Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy 2014 Intermediate Course

This intermediate level course provides in-depth learning on 19th-21st century U.S. resources and the methodology for using them. The 2014 course focuses on topics more related to researching families and individuals. Informative and interactive classroom hours delve into significant records and strategies that take you beyond basic research tools both online and off. On-site FHL library support and a computer lab from course instructors provide one-on-one assistance and guidance with your own research. This course alternates years with a course focused on localities. It's not just lectures, we have fun sharing research and stories, too. Prerequisites: experience researching in a variety of repositories, familiarity with FamilySearch.org and other websites, and previous class room learning related to family history. Schedule is subject to change.

Monday

9:00-10:15       General Class Information

                        From Clues to Records: Step-by-Step Planning:  Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

10:30-11:45     Vital Records – Strategies and Substitutes: Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

1:00-2:15         US Census Records – Beyond the Basics: Non-Population and Special Schedules:  D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS

2:30-3:45         U.S. Passport Applications:  Debra Mieszela, CG         

Tuesday         

9:00-10:15       Church Records: Locating and Excavating:  Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

10:30-11:45     Institutional Records: Extensive Family Details:  Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

1:15-2:45         Computer Lab at FHL (Paula Stuart-Warren)

2:45-6:00         One-on-one consultations at FHL (Mieszala, Stuart-Warren, Taylor)

   

Wednesday

9:00-10:15       Clustering and More: Maximizing Your Online Searches:  D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS

10:30-11:45     More than Just People: Lessons and Hints from Public Directories: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS

1:00-2:15         Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Research: Resources, Methods, and Skills: Debra Mieszala, CG

2:30-3:45         The Grey and the Blue: Beyond Pensions: Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

3:45-4:30         Optional time in classroom for groups to discuss their project

Thursday

9:00-10:15       The Write Stuff: Family Histories with Substance and Appeal: Debra Mieszala, CG

10:30-11:45     Researching the Occupations of Our Ancestors:  Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

1:00-2:15         The Three Rs: Reading, 'Riting, and Research In School Records:  Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

3:00-5:30         One-on-one consultations at FHL (Mieszala, Stuart-Warren)

Friday

9:00-10:15       Finding Family Gems in Manuscript Repositories and Special Collections:  Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

10:30-11:45     Discussion and Review of Group Research Projects:  Paula Stuart-Warren, CG

11:45-12:15     Wrap-up; Completion Certificates; Q&A  (Paula Stuart-Warren)

Evening             SLIG Banquet

Register now for 2014 Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy

Are you thinking about attending the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy next January? Don't forget to save your spot! There are courses for all levels of experience.

I am coordinating and teaching in the Intermediate Course, "American Research and Records." This course offers classes, interaction, time in the Family History Library, one-on-one consultations, and I also promise some fun! I am joined by two other great instructors, Debbie Mieszala, CG and D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS. Please see my next blog post for more details.

SLIG’s Early-Bird Registration is only weeks away, ending on October 31, 2013! The following courses still have some seats left:

• American Research and Records: Focus on Families
• Advanced Research Tools: Land Records
• Credentialing: Accreditation, Certification, or Both?
• Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum
• Problem Solving
• Utilizing Social History
• Researching in Eastern Europe

Immerse yourself in a specific genealogical topic for a week-long educational opportunity that is unparalleled.
The library is a short walk from the Institute’s location and, if available, the Radisson often provides shuttle service to the library.

Sign-up before October 31st and you will save over 10% off your registration. Become a member of UGA and increase your savings even more. The registration page can be accessed at http://www.infouga.org/aem.php?lv=p&epg=51

I will be back to blogging, lecturing, and consulting.

I have been having a great time co-chairing  next week's big FGS genealogy conference in Fort Wayne. Unfortunately, that meant that my blog has usually slipped to the bottom of my task list.

In September I will be back to more blogging here along with being available for presentations. Just contact me for my bio, lectures, and fees as well as date availability.

I will also have time to get back to one of my other loves and that is consulting with folks just starting on their family history journey or others that need some advice on where to turn next. It's like having a private genealogy class!

Last day to pre-register for FGS Genealogy Conference

Today (that's Wednesday, August 14) is the last day to pre-register for the FGS 2013 Conference that takes place next week in Fort Wayne, Indiana. If you want to add luncheons or other activities to your registration, it's also the last day to do that.

Register now before time runs out. The APG luncheon, Farewell Brunch, German Workshop, and the Scanning Workshop have already filled to capacity and several other luncheons and workshops are close to that.


Once you are preregistered, you can log-in to your account and download the full syllabus.

I hope to see you next week in Fort Wayne!

FGS Conference Online Registration Deadline

My poor blog has been a victim of my current schedule. Between client deadlines and co-chairing the FGS Conference that begins in less than two weeks in Fort Wayne, I have no extra time to write. It's going to be a great conference. The registration numbers are fantastic and don't forget that conference registrants can avail themselves of extended research hours at the Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library.

I do want to let my readers know that online registration for the FGS Conference ends on Wednesday, August 14. Click here to register and learn more about the conference.

Today, August 9, is the last day to register by regular mail.

You may still register at the door beginning Tuesday, August 20, at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne. It will be a great educational and fun time.

FGS Genealogy Conference registration deadlines near

I am back home from a wonderful week of teaching at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. The 29 students in my course were amazing. The group discussions were fantastic and I thank them all for their participation.

Now my mind is turned toward the August 21-24 Federation of Genealogical Societies annual conference. My conference co-chair, Dawne Slater-Putt, and I are looking forward to seeing family historians of all experience levels in Fort Wayne. Tuesday, August 20 has several pre-conference activities. Then there is the Genealogy Center of the Allen County Public Library. The wonderful aspects of that week in Fort Wayne are detailed at https://www.fgsconference.org/

As the FGS Conference New Blog states, "if you haven’t registered for the FGS 2013 Conference yet, you still have time to register online, by mail or at the door. Mailed registrations must be postmarked by Friday, August 9. Online registration ends on Wednesday, August 14th. Pre-registering for the conference gives you access to some great benefits." One of the benefits is access to the online syllabus in the coming days!

Of course, you may still register at the door!

Read that blog for more info on all days at www.fgsconferenceblog.org