One Billion mark for FamilySearch.org

Can you believe it? A press release from FamilySearch on Monday announced a historic milestone. I am proud to have been a part of it.

"Thank you for contributing to the billion! We did it! We reached a major milestone of one billion records indexed and arbitrated since the launch of FamilySearch indexing in September of 2006. We are grateful for the many volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to make these records freely available for online research.

Summer Genealogy Institute in Pittsburgh

Do you know about the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh? There's something for everyone this year. Six courses, great instructors, and time for intense networking and even some fun. GRIP 2013 will commence in less than 100 days. It begins the evening of Sunday, July 21 and end at noon on Friday, July 26.

There are still limited seats in a few courses. The early bird course deadline is May 15 by which time the tuition of $390 must be paid. Tuition is $425 thereafter. For those of you thinking about GRIP, now is the time to investigate further!

The dorm is just steps away from the classrooms and cafeteria. Check out the courses and other details at www.GRIPITT.org

"No longer saved for generations, family heirlooms are being shed"

That is the title of an article in today's online Star-Tribune. I know from my own experience that not all family members want to hang on to furniture, dishes, and other items.

The sentences that really hit me are "Even highly personal items, such as scrapbooks, letters and photos, are now being shed. “We’re surprised,” Burley said. Empty the Nest sells those items to vintage dealers who buy in lots, turning mementos into artwork for others." and "Mueller has purchased other personal items, including vintage diplomas and handwritten love letters, which she plans to use, along with vintage maps, to create retro decor."

Nordic Genealogy Conference in Minnesota: Early Bird Deadline is April 14

If you like to save money, don't forget to register for the discounted rate for the upcoming Nordic Genealogy Conference no later than Sunday, April 14th. The conference will be held in the Fine Arts Building at Inver Hills Community College, located in Inver Grove Heights [suburb of St. Paul] on Friday, April 26th and Saturday, April 27th.      

Friday night includes a dessert social, followed by a presentation by Doug Ohman, photographer of the

Join the FGS 2013 Conference Ambassadors

April 8, 2013 – Genealogy bloggers, societies, writers and editors are invited to participate in the Federation of Genealogical Societies 2013 Conference by becoming FGS 2013 Ambassadors. Ambassadors help to spread information about the FGS 2013 Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, August 21-24, through social media to their friends, colleagues, and everyone interested in genealogy.

FGS 2013 Ambassadors will be:

• Participating in monthly blogging prompts.
• Writing about the conference on their blog. 
• Using the hashtag #FGS2013 on Twitter.

Federation of Genealogical Societies Partners with German Association

For Immediate Release
March 28, 2013

March 28, 2013 – Austin, TX. The Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) announces a new partnership with Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft genealogischer Verbände e. V. (DAGV), an umbrella organization of genealogical and heraldic associations in Germany, in order to further the exchange of ideas and information between genealogists and family historians across the globe.

Originally announced during the recent RootsTech 2013 conference in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, March 23, 2013, FGS and DAGV will work to “develop technical solutions to preserve and present records

Minnesota State Archives acquisitions

The Minnesota State Archives continues to acquire records from around the state. This is a sampling of acquisitions over the last several months:

• February 2013:  Olmsted County.  Common School District No. 95/1354 (Kalmar Township).  Clerk’s Book (dated 1882- 1887).  1 volume.
• January 2013:  Ramsey County, St. Paul school records ( I.SD. No. 625), including a photograph of the Bryant Elementary Kitchen Kabinet Orchestra (K.K.O) dated ca. 1920s. Also,  records (dated

Wisconsin Gene-A-Rama here I come!

I just finished two great seminar weekends. The first was March 16th with the Dallas Genealogical Society and on the 23d  with the Conejo Valley [CA] Genealogical Society. It's always tough to leave the places where I present the seminars and have spent time renewing old friendships and meeting new friends. It was even tougher for me because the weather in both these places was perfect and since Spring has been ignoring Minnesota, it was tough to leave the sunshine.

I hear that Spring is actually making baby steps toward Minnesota and Wisconsin and I am happy that I will be back in Wisconsin for Gene-A-Rama at the Plaza Hotel & Suites in Wausau on April 5 & 6. Wisconsin Genealogical Society events are always fun. I will be presenting four regular lectures:

FGS 2013 Genealogy Conference Registration Opens

A great way to start Monday! The FGS 2013 conference website is now ready for conference registrations.

It is easy to use. The FGS webmaster has designed a secure step-by-step system for us. This is the place to register now and save $50.00 off the full registration price. You may also purchase tickets for luncheons, special events, a paper syllabus (every registrant receives an electronic version), subscription to FGS

Student Genealogy Grant Announced

I received this press release yesterday. I look forward to meeting the winner at the Southern California Genealogical Society's Jamboree this June 6-9th in Burbank, California.

Student Genealogy Grant Announced

February 5, 2013 – Do you know a young genealogist who could use $500 toward their family history education and free registration to the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree in June 2013?

The Suzanne Winsor Freeman Memorial Grant Committee is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2013 Student Genealogy Grant. In addition, SCGS Jamboree will once again provide the recipient with free three-day registration.

Any genealogist who is between the ages of 18 and 25 and has attended school in the last 12 months is eligible to apply. The recipient must attend the 2013 SCGS Jamboree in Burbank, California to receive the award.

The $500 cash award was established in 2010 in memory of Suzanne Winsor Freeman, family historian and life-long volunteer, and an enthusiastic annual attendee at the SCGS Jamboree.

“The Freeman Student Genealogy Grant pays tribute to these interests by awarding the annual cash grant to a young genealogist attending the SCGS Jamboree, Southern California’s premiere regional genealogy conference,” notes Denise Levenick, committee chair and Freeman’s daughter.

“We are especially grateful to Jamboree for providing a three-day conference registration to the grant recipient,” she adds. “SCGS is truly a leader in conference organizations by encouraging youth involvement in genealogy through the popular Kids Camp program and now through the student grant project.”

Past recipients of the award include Elyse Doerflinger (Lomita, California), A.C. Ivory (Salt Lake City, Utah), and Anthony Ray (Palmdale, California).

Funding for the cash award is provided by the family grant program; Jamboree registration is provided by the conference.

Complete details and application materials are available at The Family Curator, Suzanne Freeman Student Genealogy Grant < http://www.thefamilycurator.com/swf-grant/>. Follow Grant News at www.thefamilycurator.com. Application deadline is 18 March 2013 midnight PST.

For More Information Contact: Denise Levenick, swfgrant@gmail.com.

Suzanne Winsor Freeman Obituary: TheFamilyCurator.com

Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburg Registration Opens February 7th!

Another great genealogy event that I am involved with is the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. Learn, eat, and sleep in air-conditioned comfort on the beautiful campus of LaRoche College in Pittsburgh from July 21-26, 2013.

Choose from six courses and get energized and educated in this setting. I tell you about this now because online registration opens this Thursday, February 7th at noon Eastern time!

I am coordinator of the Intermediate Course: Tools for Digging Deeper. You may learn more about this course here and here.

FGS 2013 Genealogy Conference Week

As one of the Co-Chairs of the Federation of Genealogical Societies August 2013 Conference, I am delighted to share an overview of the week with you. Please join your fellow family historians as we "Journey through Generations."

Monday, August 19

• Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center open 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Tuesday, August 20

•  Librarian’s Day (all day)
• Q&A panel and genealogy consultations in the afternoon, 2-5 p.m.
• Onsite registration begins, 3-7 p.m. (additional hours each day – see conference website) 

Is that genealogy record abstract correct?

I was recently in Salt Lake City where I researched at the Family History Library. One of the main tasks was to locate a baptismal record. I had the church-generated abstract on a pre-printed form with details presumably taken directly from the church record book. Yet I needed to verify the information.

The microfilmed church record book showed that there were no errors on the abstract but it left out much of what was on the page in the record book. What was missing? The entry directly above this one was for the infant’s sibling. Then there was the notation for the infant in question that the father of these two children had been killed just three days before and it mentioned he was the husband of the mother and where they had been married. I then located the death record for the father/husband  who had a common name. With that possible date I was able to find that the death was recorded in another county. 

Great results but we still need to be careful of what was found on the microfilm. Is it actually the original record book? Whether it is in “original” form, on microfilm, or a digitized image you need to look at it with a critical eye. In other words, is it the original or one that someone copied either for easier reading or to preserve a disintegrating volume? Check to see if there is a title page giving the date the volume was published. Are there event dates that precede that publication date? If there is no such title page, then look for other clues. Is the entire record book written in the same handwriting. Of course, it could span a brief number of years and could logically hold the same handwriting for all events.

The names in the event descriptions such as christenings should not be in alphabetical order. The church members did not show up in alpha order to get christened, married, or buried. Is the handwriting the same throughout the record book that spans from 1822-1910? It is unlikely that one pastor or church member entering the events was around for all that time period.

Read the church history booklet or a county history entry to help determine if a smaller congregation was a mission or satellite church of a larger one. When the smaller one grew and had its own pastor, were the records pertaining to its members hand copied from the larger church’s books? I found one church record book that stated “people baptized when they had no pastor.” Were all the pages in the record book typed? For those 1845 events, too? Typewriters did not come into common usage until the later 1870s.

Another comment found in a church record book is “perhaps the date is 1870 it is blurred in the original but comes 1st under the year 1871.” [That is a direct transcription, dates and all!)]

Think about the church records you have consulted – what idiosyncrasies have you found?

FGS 2013 Conference Week Overview

Are you planning on attending the 2013 Federation of Genealogical Societies 2013 Conference this coming August? As one of the conference co-chairs, I am excited to share this 2013 FGS Conference Week Overview. The actual conference website debut is just days away. Be sure to check www.fgsconferenceblog,org for big announcements! The conference hotels are filling fast and details on those are on the blog.

Monday, August 19
∙    Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center open 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Tuesday, August 20
∙    Librarian’s Day (all day)
∙    Q&A panel and genealogy consultations in the afternoon, 2-5 p.m.
∙    Onsite registration begins, 3-7 p.m. (additional hours each day – see conference website)
∙    Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center open 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Wednesday, August 21 (Focus on Societies Day)
∙    Plenary session
∙    Lecture sessions all day (27 sessions + 1 workshop)
∙    FGS Opening Social Evening sponsored by findmypast.com
∙    Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center open 9 a.m.-Midnight (extended hours!)

Thursday, August 22
∙    Keynote session
∙    Grand opening of Exhibit Hall
∙    Lecture sessions all day (31 sessions + 2 workshops)
∙    Vendor Demonstrations
∙    GenSpiration Sessions
∙    3 luncheons
∙    Extended Exhibit Hall hours until 7:30 p.m. (with door prizes!)
∙    Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center open 7 a.m.-Midnight (extended hours!)

Friday, August 23
∙    Lecture sessions all day (47 sessions + 2 workshops)
∙    Vendor Demonstrations
∙    GenSpiration Sessions
∙    3 luncheons
∙    “Journey Through the Generations with Our Veterans” local host societies evening event at the Allen County Public Library sponsored by FamilySearch
∙    Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center open 7 a.m.-Midnight (extended hours!)

Saturday, August 24
∙    Lecture sessions all day (47 sessions + 2 workshops)
∙    Vendor Demonstrations
∙    GenSpiration Sessions
∙    3 luncheons
∙    Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. (extended a.m. hours!)

Sunday, August 25
∙    Farewell Brunch 9-11 a.m. (with door prizes!)

FIND MY PAST TV SHOW COMES TO THE US!

Good news and yet bad for my schedule! Are you craving a family history TV show? Just received this press release:

Tune in to findmypast.com to view episodes from the hit UK television show, Find My Past, now entering its second season. Each episode links living individuals to real historical events found in their family tree. Findmypast.com is the only place in the US where you can watch this show!

Register on findmypast.com for free and watch Find My Past episodes that aired in the last 30 days at no cost. Missed an episode or want to watch your favorites again? Findmypast subscribers can watch the all episodes for an unlimited time. Every episode will be available to watch on findmypast.com a week after it airs.

Register now!

Find My Past the TV show is an exciting series which unites ordinary members of the public with their ancestors. Each week in the new 10-part series, we reveal how three people are related to someone from a significant historical event by searching the ancestry records on findmypast. We follow their journey as each person discovers which of their ancestors played a role in modern history.

At the end of every episode, we unite the participants and reveal how each person's family history is connected to monumental world history– such as the sinking of the Titanic, the WWI Christmas Truce, and the Great Fire of London.

Hosted by Chris Hollins of BBC Breakfast, Watchdog and winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2009, the hit UK Television series is now available for the first time to watch online, exclusive to findmypast registered users. The remaining five episodes will be shown after Christmas.

Tour Germany with genealogist Michael Lacopo

I have had a wonderful two weeks in Salt Lake City this January. What a way to begin 2013! Among the many friends I was fortunate to spend time with is Michael Lacopo from Indiana. I learned that he is leading a tour to Germany this coming October 14-22. I know he spent much of his time at the Family History Library on level B-1 researching in German records.

In Mike's own words: "There are simply too many places in this wondrous country worth seeing! In many respects the “tour” is indeed geared as just a trip to Germany, and not for genealogists per se. But what is most important is to experience Germany and seeing the magnificent sites along this thoughtfully planned itinerary is going to be amazing. And, having the opportunity to do some research along the way will make this a truly unique experience for us all." 

If you would like to learn more about the itinerary, cost, and other details click here for details on German Roots Tour 2013.

Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) registration opens Feb. 7th

Registration for the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh's 2013 edition begins on Thursday, February 7, 2013. Add it to your calendar so you won't forget.


At noon, you can register for any one of the six courses. Preview the course description, coordinators, instructors, and session lineup at www.gripitt.org.

I am coordinating and instructing in Course I: Intermediate Genealogy: Tools for Digging Deeper. The other instructors are D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS and add Debra S. Mieszala, CG. 

I am also instructing in Course 3: Bridging the 1780-1840 Gap: From New England to the Midwest


http://www.gripitt.org/?page_id=653



The July 2012 GRIP was a smash hit and the set-up of the dorms, lecture rooms, and the cafeteria was perfect! The dorms were great for networking.

History lesson: Don't try to sell official county records

Did Grandpa's old trunk or Great Uncle Alfred's house yield some sort of old record book from a county or state government? Maybe you have the volume labeled Marriage Record 5. Perhaps your cousin told that they had the original records of the early tax lists for the county. In many states the law prohibits the selling of such items whether online or at an antique shop. Many dealers know that they should contact the state archives or county officials if they come upon such an item.

An article in the Arkansas Times blog  tells the story of original tax records from Jefferson County, Arkansas that were being offered on Craig's List for $10,000. Yes, you read that correctly.

Thank goodness someone saw the ad and contacted the proper authorities and the records are being returned to the county.

Read that blog post here.

Some older records that neither the county or state officials deem worth keeping may be ok for you to own. Check with officials. Better safe than sorry or embarrassed. Archivists and others check shops and online auction sites all the time for missing records.