Starting US Immigration and Naturalization Records

By Shannon Combs-Bennett, Student If you live in the United States it is a good chance that you or your family came here from somewhere else. People from all over the world have immigrated to the United States in its 239 year existence making us truly a nation of immigrants. However, for genealogists, learning about those brave souls who traveled here, many times under desperate circumstances, can be the bane of our existence. Why, oh why, couldn’t they just once put down the town they came from! The course I am taking now  is United States: Immigration and Naturalization Records, which hopefully will help me locate my elusive immigrant ancestry along the way. Or at least I can hope, right? Looking through the syllabus there appears to be a lot of great information covered. A weakness for me is immigration after 1870. The reason? Well, that is when the last of my and my husband’s ancestors came to the US. Due to that fact I have not invested a lot of time in learning about 20th and 21st century immigration and naturalization.  It will take all I have to pay extra attention in those instances but the knowledge will help me I am sure. While the course seems to be centered on those of European descent I am hopefull that the section which covers the US laws will still be of interest to others. I mean, everyone who wants to immigrate goes through the same process no matter if they…

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New Course- Photography: Clues Pictures Hold, Editing, Digitizing & Various Projects

Photography: Clues Pictures Hold, Editing, Digitizing and Various Projects is the newest course offered by The National Institute. A picture is worth a thousand words, so photographs are an integral part of telling a story. This course is designed to help students use and identify photographs to document their family history. Students are encouraged to apply the methods in this course to make the best use of their own family photos and/or those of their genealogy clients. Assignments  focus on practical applications. Students learn ways to obtain family photographs, archive them physically and digitally, determine the photographic processes used, date the photographs, and identify people and other details in the images. Although this course is part of the Professional Development Certificate program, it is suitable for students participating in the Personal Historian program or those with a general interest in family photographs. This 10 week course begins December 7th. To learn more and to register, see our website.  

Congratulations to Sue de Groot!

Congratulations to Susanna de Groot, PLCGS for 10 years with the National Institute for Genealogical Studies! Sue is familiar to almost all students as the person who replies to questions regarding courses and assignments. Sue also does the crucial behind the scenes work  before courses are available online to students. Louise St Denis says “Sue has been an invaluable asset to both our students at the National Institute and to me personally. She has been my right arm. I can rely on Sue’s attention to detail and fantastic follow-up system. Congratulations Sue on your 10th year anniversary with the team at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.” Aside from working at The National Institute, Sue is the owner of Windmill Genealogy Services, a professional genealogist, and lecturer specializing in Ontario and Netherlands research. Susanna is a graduate of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies and has received her Professional Learning Certificate in Canadian Records. She is the instructor for Research: Dutch Ancestors in the Netherlands, as well as the Administrative Coordinator at the National Institute. Susanna has written a number of genealogical articles and is the co-author of the book Finding Your Dutch Ancestors, published by Heritage Productions. She is a Member-at-Large on the board of the Toronto Branch-Ontario Genealogical Society and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists-Ontario Chapter  and the National Genealogical Society. So if you find yourself talking to Sue, wish her a happy 10th anniversary! You can email congratulations at degroot [at] genealogicalstudies.com .

Updated Course – Research: Saskatchewan Ancestors

Researching your Canadian ancestors? Our course, Research: Saskatchewan Ancestors has just been updated with the latest resources and information. Saskatchewan was part of the North West Territories from 1870 until it became a province in 1905. During this period the land was surveyed and railways were built to bring settlers to the west. To encourage settlement the government of Canada passed the Dominion Land Act in 1871. Under the act a one hundred and sixty acres of land was offered as a free homestead to males 21 years of age or to women who were the sole support for their family. Many people came from other areas in Canada, the United States, the British Isles and Europe to take up homesteads. Before beginning research in Saskatchewan the researcher should establish a research plan noting whom they are searching for, when the family was in Saskatchewan, where they lived, and what they were doing in the province. This enables the researcher to see what records the family may have created in Saskatchewan. This course will help you learn about the major record centres, libraries and societies that can help you find and use the records you need to trace Saskatchewan ancestors. The assignment part of the course will involve using many of the websites to find which original documents you will need to the answer your research problems. To learn more about what is covered in this course, please see our website. This course begins 4 January 2016.

A GRAND TOUR OF IRELAND

Researching Irish ancestry is always a challenge! Why not move the search to the land of your ancestors and join me on a 15 day grand tour of Ireland in April 2016? Three days of research at the National Archives in Dublin and the Public Record Office in Belfast, plus a fully guided tour of many historical and interesting sites.  Sharing our research interests and “brick walls” with others is often one way of discovering more about our own family history. See the land, breathe the air … experience Ireland with Lesley Anderson!    For more information including the itinerary and how to reserve your spot – click here: https://genealogysite.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/join-me-on-an-unforgettable-adventure/   Lesley Anderson has been involved in the personal research of her family tree for over 45 years and her passion for genealogy has branched out to teaching classes, speaking at seminars and conferences, consulting, and doing research for others. She is the Canadian spokesperson for Ancestry.ca and also volunteers at the Ottawa Stake LDS Family History Center where she gets great enjoyment out of helping new and experienced genealogists with their research.   Join me on an Unforgettable Adventure! A GRAND TOUR OF IRELAND WITH PLENTY OF TIME FOR GENEALOGY RESEARCH & FUN FOR ALL! APRIL 16 – MAY 2, 2016 Land Price – $3,183.00 CDN per person (twin shared room*) + Book your own air flight *Single Room Supplement + $825.00 CLICK HERE FOR FULL TRIP ITINERARY April 2016 CIE COACH TOUR INCLUDES: 15 nights’ accommodation Exclusive transport by luxury motor coach with a…

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