Intermediate Genealogy

What: The fourth round of MGS’ popular Intermediate Genealogy course features expanded coverage of topics and new lectures!

When: Saturday mornings, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Where: Minnesota History Center, St. Paul

Who should attend: Genealogists who want to expand their knowledge of genealogical records, repositories, and methodology.

Instructors:

Tom Rice, a board-certified genealogist, is a professional genealogy researcher, lecturer and writer. He is a director of the Irish Genealogical Society International, managing editor of their award winning journal, The Septs, past director of the Minnesota Genealogy Society, and a genealogy help desk volunteer at the Minnesota History Center library. He attended seven week long genealogy educational workshops at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy.
J. H. Fonkert is a board-certified genealogist whose research extends from the Midwest to Scandinavia, Germany, Netherlands and England. Past-president of the Minnesota Genealogical Society, he lectures widely, and has published in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, The Septs, Minnesota Genealogist, NGS Magazine and Family Chronicle.
Lois Abromitis Mackin researches Polish, Lithuanian, Cornish, German, Irish, and Scots ancestors in the Midwest, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. She holds a doctorate in history from Brown University, chairs the Minnesota Genealogical Society Education Committee, and sits on the MGS Board of Directors.
Harold E. Hinds Jr, Distinguished Professor of History, at the University of Minnesota-Morris (UMM), teaches an introductory university-level course on genealogy and personal family history at UMM, and has lectured and published extensively on historical and genealogical topics. He serves as a Director of the National Genealogical Society.

How: Each Saturday class session features two lectures.

Course Content: Round 4 lectures are:

Cost: $28 per session for MGS and MHS members/$32 for non-members

How to register: Sign up online at www.mnhs.org. Go to the Library tab, then click Library Classes.

Publishing Your Family History

What: A comprehensive, three-session guide to publishing your family history.

When: Friday September 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m., continuing Saturday September 25, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Where: The Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN. All sessions will take place in the MGS Library classroom.

Who should attend: Genealogists who have researched their family and now want to get it DONE!

Instructor: Bergetta F. Monroe. Bergetta is a long-time MGS member, director, and volunteer who published her second family history in 2010.

How: Classes will combine lecture, discussion, and practice. Participants should come prepared to explain what they want to write.

Course content: If done means organized and in a printed form, this is the class for you! Come and figure out what you want to do and how to get all those generations and surnames in some sort of order. What is the best way to get copies to everyone? What should you charge, or do you want to donate copies to the family? Bring your questions and examples and we'll get you on the road to publication!

During the Saturday class we will break for lunch. You can order a catered lunch for $10. This must be ordered ahead, so get your registration in early!

Cost: $50 MGS and branch members, $60 non-members. Optional Saturday lunch $10.

How to register: Sign up online by Credit Card or PayPal Account, by mail, or in person at the MGS library. To register by mail, send a check payable to MGS, along with your name, address, telephone number, and email address to Publishing Your Family History Registration, Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN 55075. Be sure to specify if you want the optional lunch!

Using the Internet for Genealogical Research

What: A four-session course on how to get the most out of your browser, search more effectively, capture and organize what you find, communicate, and learn using what the Internet has to offer genealogists.

When: Four Wednesday evenings: October 6, 13, 20 and 27, 6–9 p.m.

Where: The Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN. All sessions will take place in the MGS Library.

Who should attend: Genealogists with basic genealogical and computer skills. Participants should be able to use a browser to find websites, use Google to conduct basic searches, download files, save them, and find them again.

Instructors:

Tom Rice, CG–professional genealogical researcher, lecturer and author. Past director of MGS and past officer of the Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI).

Mary Wickersham–professional genealogical researcher and lecturer. Past officer of MGS and IGSI.

How: Classes will be a combination of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on, and will include home assignments.

How Many: This class is limited to 16 registrants. Eight will be able to use the MGS library computers and eight more will be able to bring their own laptops to use the MGS library's WiFi connection.

Course Content:

Session 1: Finding the right browser, customizing your browser settings and plug-ins, selecting search engines, genealogical search techniques.

Session 2: Learning about key genealogical websites, developing Internet research strategies, and finding the best ways to search databases.

Session 3: Capturing, saving, and organizing search results; taking advantage of the Internet as a learning tool.

Session 4: Internet communication tools, social networking, blogs, wikis, and wrap-up.

Cost: You have two cost options:

Full course registration: $80.00 for MGS and branch members/$90 for non-members.

Single session registration: $25 for MGS and branch members/$30 for non-members.

How to register: Sign up online by Credit Card or PayPal Account, by mail, or in person at the MGS library. To register by mail, send a check payable to MGS, along with your name, address, telephone number, and email address to Using the Internet Registration, Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN 55075. Be sure to specify whether you wish to use a library computer or will provide your own WiFi enabled laptop!

Reunions: How to Do Them!

What: Is it time to gather the family? Are you in charge of your class reunion? Do you have to gather a group or put on a big event?

When: Saturday October 16, 1:30-4 p.m.

Where: The Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN. Class will take place in the Library classroom.

Who should attend: Genealogists who are planning or thinking about planning a reunion or other large event, and want to enjoy it.

Instructor: Bergetta F. Monroe. Bergetta is a long-time MGS member, director, and volunteer who has planned many events and gatherings, including a national three-day family gathering.

How: Class will include lecture and discussion.

Course content: Learn how to estimate costs, set up a tour, keep the event interesting and all that goes into making a reunion a success ...and enjoy it yourself! Learn the best ways to handle food, tours, entertainment, hotels, door prizes, and many other items.

Cost: $25 MGS and branch members, $30 non-members.

How to register: Sign up online by Credit Card or PayPal Account, by mail, or in person at the MGS library. To register by mail, send a check payable to MGS, along with your name, address, telephone number, and email address to Reunions Registration, Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN 55075.

Beginning Genealogy

What: A fifteen-hour course in six sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to work on a genealogical project with help and feedback from instructors.

When: Saturday October 30, 1-3:30 p.m.

Saturday November 6 & 13, December 4, 11 & 18, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: The Minnesota Genealogical Society library, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN.

Who should attend: People interested in beginning their family history and others who have started but want to be sure their work is on a sound footing.

Instructors:

Lois Mackin, Ph.D.--specializing in Midwest, Pennsylvania, and English genealogy. MGS director and Chair of the MGS Education Committee.

John Schade—specializing in Canadian, French, and American Indian genealogy. MGS director and Librarian.

David Suddarth--specializing in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.  MGS First Vice President.

How: Classes will combine lectures, small groups, and individual work in and outside of class.

Course content: Participants will learn the five steps for beginning (and continuing) their genealogy research. Topics include inventorying personal knowledge, learning from home sources, organizing materials, planning research, locating and learning from records (census, vital records, church and cemetery records, immigration records, and naturalization records), citing sources, analyzing and correlating genealogical evidence, and applying the genealogical proof standard.

During the two-week Thanksgiving break between course segments, participants have the opportunity to work on a genealogical project with help and feedback from instructors.

Christine Rose’s Complete Idiot’s Guide to Genealogy (second edition) is the textbook for the course.

Cost: $70, plus textbook ($12.89, available from MGS).

You may attend individual sessions at $12 each, but to get the most benefit, we recommend you take the entire course!

How to register: Sign up online by Credit Card or PayPal Account, by mail, or in person at the MGS library. To register by mail, send a check payable to MGS, along with your name, address, telephone number, and email address to Beginning Genealogy Registration, Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN 55075.

Working with Image Files

What: Learn the basics of digital image manipulation: how to acquire, enhance, repair, store, organize, and share your genealogical images.

When: Monday afternoons, November 8 and 15, 1-4 p.m.

Where: The Minnesota Genealogical Society library, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN.

Who should attend: Genealogists with basic genealogical and computer skills who want to learn how to acquire, enhance, repair, store, organize, and share their genealogical images—ancestor photos, images of records and documents, and more.

Instructors:

Tom Rice, CG–professional genealogical researcher, lecturer and author. Past director of MGS and past officer of the Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI).

Mary Wickersham–professional genealogical researcher and lecturer. Past officer of MGS and IGSI.

How: Classes will be a combination of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on, and will include home assignments.

How Many: This class is limited to 16 registrants. Eight will be able to use the MGS library computers and 8 others will be able to bring their own laptops to use the MGS library's WiFi connection.

Course Content:

Overall: Learn to use your computer to full advantage to capture, store and manipulate photographs and document images for use in your genealogical database, website, reports or publications.

Session 1: Learn about the types of files you can use for your images, how to get images onto your computer, how to crop, resize, and adjust contrast, brightness, and shadows in your images.

Session 2: Learn how to enhance or repair images that are too dark, too light, not readable, or damaged. Add captions, frames, and effects. Find out how to organize and share your images.

Cost: $40.00 for the course (no single session registration)

How to register: Sign up online by Credit Card or PayPal Account, by mail, or in person at the MGS library. To register by mail, send a check payable to MGS, along with your name, address, telephone number, and email address to Working with Images Registration, Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1185 N. Concord St., South St. Paul, MN 55075. Be sure to specify whether you wish to use a library computer or will provide your own WiFi enabled laptop!