Smile for the Camera - Valentine

My Valentine and I right after we got engaged.

Genealogy and Stephen Colbert

What more can a person ask for?  Faces of America begins Wednesday.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

GenClass merges with NIGS offering intensive short term classes

I received this email today:


NEWS RELEASE: GenClass instructors merge 24 courses with the 150 existing courses at National Institute for Genealogical Studies!

GREAT NEWS! Lots of new topics & new courses available through the National Institute... As of February, you will see a new 'type' of course offered at the Institute --- INTENSIVE SHORT TERM courses.

* Intensive --- packed with lots of very helpful information, research techniques & tips;
* Short Term --- most will be four (4) weeks in length;
* Instructors --- experts in their field of genealogical research;
* Live Meetings (optional) ---  four (4) optional 'real-time' online meetings with your Instructor and fellow coursemates;
* Direct Communication --- consult directly with your instructor via e-mail;
* Feedback --- discuss specific topics through various online or offline threads;
* Assignments (optional) --- although there may be some personal assignments to enhance a technique, submitting them is completely optional;
* Exam (none) --- no final exam to be completed;
* Inexpensive --- under $50;
* One-on-One Advice --- Book an appointment with your instructor to discuss in-depth individual research problems (additional fee).
(The above may vary by course; check the course description for details.)

Below is a list of the new courses, the instructor and their first anticipated start month. Check online for a full description of the course, actual dates courses are offered throughout the year and to complete your registration. (Go to www.genealogicalstudies.com, click on menu item COURSES, click on COURSES again, click on INTENSIVE SHORT TERM view, click on name of course).

START DATE: February 15
Research: African-American Ancestors; Michael Hait

START DATE: March 1
Investigation: Adoption Records; Linda Rakita
Investigation: Lost Friends and Family; Linda Rakita
Research: English Ancestors-The Basics; Sheena Tait

START DATE: April 5
Brick Wall Research; Lisa Alzo
Research: Australian and New Zealand Ancestors; Kerry Farmer
Research: Female Ancestors; Lisa Alzo
Research: Native American Ancestors; Barbara Benge

START DATE: May 3
Research: Jewish Genealogy on the Internet; Micha Reisel
Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Family Story

START DATE: June 7
Research: Canadian Genealogy on the Internet-Part 1; Pat Ryan

START DATE: July 5
Research: Canadian Genealogy on the Internet-Part 2; Pat Ryan
Research: Salt Lake City, The Largest Genealogical Library-Part 1; Pat Ryan

START DATE: August 2
Research: Canadian Genealogy on the Internet-Part 3; Pat Ryan
Research: Jewish Ancestors-Basic Introduction; Schelly Talalay Dardashti
Research: Salt Lake City, The Largest Genealogical Library-Part 2; Pat Ryan

START DATE: Not Set Yet
Electronic Resources-Family Tree Maker 2009-The Basics; Cindy Rowzee
Electronic Resources-Family Tree Maker 2009-Advanced; Cindy Rowzee
Jump Start your Genealogy; Lisa Alzo
Organizing Your Family History; Cindy Rowzee
Research: European Ancestors-Part 1; Lisa Alzo
Research: European Ancestors-Part 2; Lisa Alzo
Research: United States-Great Lakes States; Lisa Alzo
Research: United States-Northeastern US; Cindy Rowzee

GenClass was formed in 2007 by a group of instructors who formerly taught courses for MyFamily.com. They quickly earned the reputation of offering affordable intensive courses with lots of valuable information covering a variety of general and specialized topics. Students enjoyed the Instructor involvement throughout the process. Ten instructors, with a total of 24 courses, have recently moved their courses to the Institute's training platform.

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies, in affiliation with the Continuing Education unit of the University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto, offer Certificate Programs in Genealogical Studies in the records of Canada, England, Ireland, Germany, United States and a Librarianship Program. The Institute celebrated its 10th anniversary of Genealogical Education during 2009.

Louise St Denis, Managing Director
The National Institute for Genealogical Studies

Surname Saturday: Fink/Finck

Each Saturday this year I am posting one of my surnames, going in alphabetical order.  This weeks surname is Fink/Finck.  The names in red are my direct line ancestors.

1-John FINCK
b: , , , Germany
+Barbara KILLSTER
b: , , , Germany
. . . . 2-Gottlieb FINK
        b: 1 October 1838, Bretton, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
        d: 7 April 1910, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . +Barbara FLEEMAN
        b: 13 February 1846, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
        d: 1 January 1929, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-George FINK
                b: 26 May 1865, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Elizabeth L. FINK
                b: 6 July 1867, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                d: 24 April 1957, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . +Jacob J. GRESS
                b: 26 January 1869, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                m: Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                d: 11 August 1932, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Chester E. GRESS
                        b: June 1888
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-May GRESS
                        b: 19 September 1890
                        d: 11 June 1970, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Walter L. GRESS
                        b: 6 December 1891, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Elsie GRESS
                        b: 13 May 1894
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Howard J. GRESS
                        b: 18 March 1896, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Beulah GRESS
                        b: 27 January 1898, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                        d: 7 May 1968, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Vera Julia GRESS
                        b: 11 January 1900, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                        d: 2 February 1976, Cheektowaga, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Ella FINK
                b: 18 September 1869, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Edward FINK
                b: 23 December 1871, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Ida FINK
                b: 16 August 1873, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Emma FINK
                b: 9 June 1875, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Lydia FINK
                b: 3 May 1877, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Louis A. FINK
                b: 16 July 1879, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Frank FINK
                b: 16 October 1882, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Edna FINK
                b: October 1884, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
. . . . . . . . 3-Walter T. FINK
                b: April 1887, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA

What is your favorite census?

NARAtions wants to know:  Which U.S. decennial census is your favorite and why?


This is quite a question.  I think I would have to say 1900, as this is the first census that all of my ancestral lines are on (we were a late group coming to the US).  This could have been 1890, but, well, we all know how that turned out...


What is your favorite and why?

Outlining Februaries Tale

My goals for February are going to be pretty light, as I want to spend as much time as possible with Aaron before I heard to Europe.

1. Do my ProGen assignment for Lesson #1 and blog about it
2. Continue to hope, wish and wait for my FHL films to arrive
1. Go through them for information once they arrive
3. Continue census transcriptions of WNYGS
4. Start organizing my box of genealogy paperwork into binders
5. Research Eberstadt, Germany for an entry to the Carnival of Central & Eastern Genealogy

The Tale of January Research

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...  January - a new month, a new year, a new decade.  The worst of times was the cold of a Central New York winter, but it's mostly been a rather mild so winter, so I'm pretty lucky. For the best of time it was the first time in 4 months I didn't have school, which meant I could actually research, though mostly I organized.  I have decided monthly reviews make more sense than weekly ones, as I don't do enough genealogy things in a week to dedicate a whole post to it, usually.  Thanks Barbara for the amazing monthly reviews which gave me this idea!   


Best of times:

• Research
• Ordered death certificates for Katherine Weiss Eichhorn Gorndt and Charles Gorndt
• Found census and civil war info for Charles Gorndt
• Found Amelia Casillo's marriage date
• Ordered 5 films from the FHC for Knockholt, Kent, England and Roccaromano, Casera, Italy
• Organization
• I transcribed two binders of records into my genealogy program
• Education
• Became a member of ProGen Group #6
• Attended RUSA's (ALA)
• Listed on Randy's
• Joined APG
• Transcription
• Began transcription of the 1865 East Aurora, Erie, NY census for the
• Reading:
• Finding your Italian ancestors : a beginner's guide by Suzanne Russo Adams
• Social networking for genealogists by Drew Smith
• In search of your German roots : a complete guide to tracing your ancestors in the Germanic areas of Europe by Angus Baxter
• Blog:
• Participated in first Carnival of Genealogy of the year
• Participated in weeks 1 - 4 of 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy
• Wrote 3 Surname Saturday Posts
• Participated in Data Back-up Weekend and won a prize