GENEALOGICAL STARTING POINTS FROM MY EXPERIENCE
highly suggest you take a Norwegian genealogy class on "how to trace your family tree" before you ever accept help from a genealogist. Taking "basic classes" will help you understand something about tracing your Norwegian family tree.If you really want outstanding help from the Genealogists (that are going to work with you) they would really appeciate that you "kind-of-know" what your doing and not have to teach you from scratch, trust me ! ! !
In other wording:
"Take some basic classes before you ever start working with a genealogist, from Sons of Norway, Local Library, Genealogy Society or Laget.
(1) FIRST REQUIRMENT PLEASE TAKE SOME CLASSES BEFORE YOU WORK WITH ANY GENEALOGY PERSON in our lag or from a Sons of Norway, City library or Genealogy Society genealogist
Local librarys such as Hennipenn County Library has many online resources that you would normally have to subscribe too. Many librarys offer introduction classes for beginners. I really recommend NAGA out of South Saint Paul Once you have some background from the live classes or on-line learning on how to use the Nat Archives of Norway, ship records, grave marker sites, and other resources it will make it a lot more enjoyable for you and the genealogist.
Of course you can trace you family tree on your own with a lot of dead ends, as I did with a little help from our "Nordlandslaget genealogist" when I first started. There are great resources from Sons of Norway, local librarys and several web sites.
(2) THERE ARE HUNDREDS of PEOPLE OUT ON THE INTERNET
that are willing to give you advice on how to trace your family tree.
Off course you may not understand most of the info unless take some classes first
The best site I ever found was by the Sons of Norway Vennekretsen Lodge in Atlanta Its really an outstanding site. The volunteers of the lodge and webmaster have taken information from several sources such as Rootsweb and made it more user friendly for the beginner. Presents an organized resource catalog in the following major categories below.
If your going to perform your own research or want to understand tracing your roots, read each one of these proven tips that will walk you thru some of the steps and pitfalls.
Beginners I've given you a getting start link below to the first topic. Please read - Outstanding. Then go on to get an overall view of the other topics. Again all great tips by Vennekretsen Lodge.
Getting Started
• Bygdebøker
• Census
• Church
• Culture
• Emigration
• Family Pages
• General
• History
• Land
• Language
• Lookup
• Mail lists
• Organizations
• Reference
• Search
• Travel
First start with your relatives in the USA then take the leap over to Norway. Take time to learn about Norwegian naming practices and farm names. It'll make your search much easier. The Norway Research Sources page will lead you to many other research sites for the bygdeboks, census, emigration, history, mail lists, organizations, personal web pages, recipes, and others. Another useful tool is the complete LDS Family History Research Helps, including the Norwegian Genealogical Word List, Norway Research Outline, and Map of Norway. Finally, join a mail list and post a query there and post a query on the Norway Message Boards. For best results, be sure to read: Writing a Good Norwegian Research Query before you post. Researching your ancestors may not be easy, but with enough perseverance, your work will surely pay off.
Interactive Norway Map Service by statens Kartverk (i Norsk)
Click on the British flag for the English language version. What's great about these maps you can zoom right down to where you see Farm buildings, Power lines and more.
(3) Did you ever think about using you tube videos to teach how to research a family tree
and learn the basics.
Barefoot Genealogist, Crista Cowan, Approach Your Family History Research Like A Prowill show you how to formulate a proper research plan to get the most out of your family history search. The very first thing she points out is you should take some genealogical classes before you ever think about getting help from a genealogist that is going to help you !
Family Tree Maker Five Reasons to Use (and love) It. Have you always wondered why people would use a genealogy software program when they can just as easily put their tree online? Do you have Family Tree Maker and wonder if you are using this powerful tool to its fullest capacity? Join Crista Cowan as she shares her top five reasons for using (and loving)
Tips for Finding Family in Passenger Lists Join Ancestry's own barefoot genealogist, Crista Cowan, as she shows you the answer to this week's question: I'm trying to trace my immigrant grandparents in the early 1900s, what are some tricks to finding them in the passenger lists?
View this video and the other videos she has produced - they are well done Genealogy, Research Using Military Records, Online Research Tools,Related Sites, Genealogy Workshops Nationwide that are general tips
(4) If you are a sons of Norway member of a lodge they have genealogists
I recommend the information you can get from the Sons of Norway. As you go on with your research, you will want to get a copy of Sons of Norway's Norwegian Cultural Skills unit number five, Genealogy / Family History. To access the units, you must be a Sons of Norway Member. The Cultural Skills Program serves a variety of purposes:
•To encourage active participation in both traditional and contemporary Norwegian-North American pursuits
• To enrich the lives of members of all ages
•To provide the basis for special interest clubs within our lodges
•To provide new reasons for people to join Sons of Norway.
Through this Cultural Skills program you can earn pins for your genealogical accomplishments. The unit, written by Sons of Norway member Lee Rokke of Norsota Lodge (1-602), also contains a lot of helpful information, and provides a structured format for doing your research. Copies of this and all Cultural Skills units can be ordered by calling Sons of Norway Headquarters at 1-800-945-8851 or by emailing culture@sofn.com.
We offer our members Genealogy help
Please take some classes so have a basic understanding of the resourses
NORDLANDSLAGET LIBRARY and RESOURCES provided at our STEVNERs
What our library has when you attend a Stevne
Specialized Handouts by Jay W. Liedman our genealogist
Jay Liedman is our genealogist for the Lag. As a member when come to your first "Stevne" you'll be able to get copies of these pamplets that Jay has created over the years.
• A Basic Course in Norwegian-American and Norwegian Genealogy (2000)
• A Course in Norwegian Genealogy - Beyond the Basics (2001)
• A summary of the History of Northern Norway - Pre-History to 1660
• A summary of the History of Northern Norway - 1660 to 1905
• A Sampling of Useful Internet Sites for Norwegian-American Researchers (2005)
• Tips, Tricks and Techniques in Family History Research (2007)
• Norwegian PIoneer Life in North America (2008)
• DNA and Genealogy (2009)
• A year in the life of a 19th century North Norwegian (2010)Nordlandslag Genealogical Database
Help from Nordlanderlaget Members
Many of the members speak and read Norwegian or can find help reading documents
The Lag has couple dozen family trees and history booklets from members
Imigration Indexes for Helgeland (partial) Nordland - formerly known as "Helgeland" - includes Bodø, Brønnøy, Leirfjord, Lofoten, Narvik, Rana, Tysfjord, and Verøy.
Norsk Slektshistorisk Tidsskrift (Norwegian: "Journal of Norwegian Genealogy") is the academic journal for genealogy published in the Norwegian language by the Norwegian Genealogical Society. The NST specializes in the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the 18th Century, the three great brickwalls of modern genealogical research. Its articles cover virtually every parish, region and city in Norway but its readers and subscribers are not limited to Norway. It is being read wherever there are descendants of Norwegian emigrants – Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Canada and the United States, to name a few.
Since 1927, NST has been publishing two issues for each year. Each volume has four issues, covering two years at a time. with two issues for each year. So far, 43 volumes are available but only the first 39 volumes are bound.
Microfilms
Includes church and census records from a number of districts,
mostly in Southern Nordland
Probate Extracts
Very valuable for solving relationship questions.
We have a number for Nordland. Maps
Both modern and historic maps of North Norway Books
• Norwegian Given Names, by Kari Nakling (1976)
• Norwegian Bunuds, by Kjersti Skavhaug (1982)
• Children of Lapland by Thora Thorsmand (1936)
• Slekter i Malangen, by B.Landnes (1949)
• Throms, by Ivan Kristoffersen (1979)
• Nesna Sogn Fram Till Ar 1850, by Oyvind JEnssen (1996)
• Vefsn Bygdebok, by Kjell Jacobsen (1975) Vol.II
• Norske Gaardnavne, by O. Rygh - Troms Volume (1911)
• Norske Gaardnavne, by O. Rygh - Nordland Volume (1905)
• Fra Jamtland til Vefsn, by Kjell Jacobsen (1999)
• Norwegian Heritage, by Arland Fiske (1990)
• Scandinavian Genealogical Research Manual by Finn A. Thompson (1980)
• Pastor Lorenz Andersson Dass of Trondenes and His Descendants, by Aagetrgens (N.D.)
• Norsk Lutherske Menigheter i Amerika 1843-1916, by O.M. Norlie Vol.1 (1918)
• Norsk Lutherske Menigheter i Amerika 1843-1916, by O.M. Norlie Vol.2 (1918)
• History of the Norwegian People in America, by O.M. Norlie (1925)
• Norge i Nord, by Kare Kleivan (N.D.)
• The Bygdelag in America, by Odd S. Lovoll (1975)
• Ships of Our Ancestors, by Michael Anuta (1983)
• Nordland, by Leif Lillegard (1976)23 Slaegten Benkestok, by Wilhelmine Brandt (1904)
• Vega Bygdebok, by Haakon O. Wika (1977) Vol.3
• Hemnes Kommme - Jubileums - Skrift 1837-1987
• Trondheim Probate Extracts 1625-1729 (NST)
• Velfjord Bygdebok, by Harold Strom (1971)
• Somna Slett I-IV, by Tor Mathisen and Margaret Miller (1997)
• Norske Gaardnavne, by O. Rygh - Finnmark Volume (1924)
• Hemnes og Mo Prestegjeld til 1850, by Axel Coldevin (1964)
• Mo Prestegjeld Etter 1850, by Axel Coldevin (196?)
• Vega Bygdebok, by Hakon O. Wika (1961) Vol.1
• Vega Bygdebok, by Hakon O. Wika (1961) Vol.3
• Nesna Sogn, by Oyvind Jenssen (1996) Vol.1
• Nordlandslaget an Amerika og Kanada 1909-1984
• Folk Arts of Norway, by Janice Stewart (1953) Following up on the original 1953 University of Wisconsin Press edition and the 1972 Dover Publications reissue, this updated volume includes new information on north Norway and on the Sami (the people formerly known as Lapps). As in previous editions, chapters detail the Norwegian folk arts of carving, rosemaling, metalwork, weaving, and embroidery, offering historical origins and discussing regional variations.
• Art of Norway 1750-1914, by Lovise Linder, editor (1979)
• Norsk-Engelsk Ordbok, by J. Brynildsen (1927)
• Norwegian English Dictionary, by Einar Haugen (1965)
• Hemnes Gard of Slekt, by Erling Nordli (1992) Vol.1
• Hemnes Gard of Slekt, by Erling Nordli (1992) Vol.2
• Nordmaendene i Amerika, by Martin Ulvestad (1907) Vol.1
• Nordmaendene i Amerika, by Martin Ulvestad (1907) Vol.2
• Norge i Amerika med Kart, by Martin Vlvestad (1901)
• Vefsn Bygdebok, by Bjarne Svare (1974) Vol.1
• Gard og Grend i Meloy, by Knut Mo (1981) Vol.1
• Gard og Grend i Meloy, by Knut Mo (1981) Vol.2
• Mo Prestegjeld Gardshistorie, by Anders Froholm (196-)
Below are some ideas and links to sites which the web designer feels will help in your research and genealogy. While I cannot endorse any website or institution, or guarantee the currency of any site, I feel that the ones mentioned here are good starting points for further research.
Now for getting into the research
The Minnesota Historical Society Online Index of Death Certificates. You also have to go to North Dakota, South Dakota and Canada Join a Bygdelag - 37 lags Each district of Norway has a "lag" and each has a genealogist and most members have already completed a family tree for their area. It's possible one or two of the members are distant cousins and part of your family tree is already completed.
Family Search (sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints) Must at least try your family name and see what happens. But you will often find family mistakes. As in my family tree all five kids that came from Norway took different names and even some of birthdate were wrong on the site. Pick the district your grandparents came from below and click the link. I updated so my kinfolk could go to heaven.
The Norwegian - American Genealogical Association South Saint Paul, Minnesota N-AGA assists members with family history research. If live in Twin Cities the have 3 classes a year. They actively collect and reference materials for the Norwegian collection stored at the MGS Genealogy Library, 1185 Concord Street North, Suite 218, South St. Paul, Minnesota. The Norwegian collection library has many history finding aids, maps, bygdeboker (farm and community histories), Norwegian passenger lists, Rowberg obituary file, Norwegian genealogical periodicals and family histories. It's one outstanding resourse in one spot. Ancestry.com is available (free) and several onlline resources in the Reading Room. Sources include U.S. Federal Census records, passenger lists, Social Security Death Index, military records, World War I draft registrations, and other resources are indexed through this resource.
Digitalarkivet - Nat Archives of Norway (This site includes Census Data from the years 1801, 1865 and 1900 as well as some Emigration Lists, Military Rolls, Tax Lists, Church Registers and much more) This is the site you most likely will use the most.
The Ellis Island Immigration Museum together with the American Family Immigration History Center 2001 the Foundation launched the American Family Immigration History Center on Ellis Island and the World Wide Web, which makes the 25 million arrival records and over 900 ships of passage pictures in the Ellis Island Archives available to everyone.
Norway Heritage (Ships Lists) 100 years of emigrant ships from Norway: You know the year of emigration from Norway, but not what ship - browse the Index of Norwegian departures 1825 - 1925. Most ships left Norway and went to England where they got off, traveled by train to the other end of England and boarded another ship.Many went to Canada to enter the US by way of Chicago. Some ships did go to New York
The Ancestors from Norway website was created in 1996 to provide a road map to various Internet resources on Norwegian - American genealogy.
US National Archives and Records Admin Learn how you can use the resources at the National Archives to explore your family's ancestry. Lots of good stuff to read before get deep into your family research. Subjects include Start Your Genealogy Research Research Tips, Genealogy Research Using Military Records, Start Your Genealogy Research, Research Tips
The Norwegian National Library, Norwegian-American Collection The entire digital collection, including copyright-protected materials is available for research and documentation on the National Library of Norway's premises. The Legal Deposit Act mandates the National Library to collect, index and preserve for posterity Norwegian published knowledge and culture production in all media. Using this as a source for collection development and mediation of knowledge and culture, the National Library has an ambition to be one of Europe's most modern and exciting national libraries.
The Canadian Embassy in Norway Has links to genealogy and family history. Canada and Norway signed a Youth Mobility Memorandum of Understanding in October 2006. opening the doors for enhanced person-to-person contacts among Canadian and Norwegian youth. Academic and student mobility has increased steadily over the past years. There is a vibrant cultural cooperation between the two countries with frequent exchanges of artists, solidified by. There is increased cooperation between northern Canadians and Norwegians, with a special connection between the community of Gjoa Haven in Nunavut and the Fram Museum in Oslo; Inuit culture and traditional knowledge acquired by Norwegian explorer Amundsen in Gjoa Haven was one of reasons for his success in reaching the South Pole in 1911.
The Minnesota Historical Society Vital Records: Marriage, Birth, & Death The Minnesota Historical Society has a vast collection of State Archives government records such as Minnesota birth, marriage, and death records for certain years. Alternate sources for earlier vital information are religious records (for baptism, marriage and death information), obituaries (birth information is sometimes included), and census records.
The Minnesota Historical Society Family History Overview Family history can be a very rewarding and educational activity. The Minnesota Historical Society has a variety of resources to help you learn about your family's history. If you are just starting out on your family research it is best to begin in a systematic way. Your research will be more productive and generally more successful if you do Family History Research in 8 Easy Steps
Step 1: Start with what you know
Step 2: Prepare for your visit to the library
Step 3: Determine the kind of record you need
Step 4: Record your results.
Step 5: Decide what you want to find out next.
Step 6: What you can do at home.
Step 7: Read about the areas in which your ancestors lived.
Step 8: Read about doing family research.
Join a Laget, Genealogical society.
Share your research.
The State Historical Society of North Dakota Genealogical resources at the State Archives are available in the Orin G. Libby Memorial Reading Room during regular business hours. The reference staff will attempt to answer specific requests by phone, email, or mail if you are unable to visit the North Dakota Heritage Center. Although SHSND materials generally do not circulate, most newspapers, state censuses, and early atlases are available on microfilm through interlibrary loan. We encourage researchers to use interlibrary loan as we are unable to process requests for in-depth research.
Ancestry.com is available (free)in the Reading Room at the State Archives or at any library or school in the state through the subscription of the North Dakota State Library and funding from the State Legislature. Sources include U.S. Federal Census records, passenger lists, Social Security Death Index, military records, World War I draft registrations, and other resources are indexed through this resource.
United States Historical Census Data Browser The data and terminology presented in the Historical Census Browser are drawn directly from historical volumes of the U.S. Census of Population and Housing.
The Washington State Historical Society
Wisconsin Historial Society
Norway link page to many Norsk Travel Resources It's really a travel page, fun to look around and some clicking.
Norway Heritage (Ships Lists) 100 years of emigrant ships from Norway: You know the year of emigration from Norway, but not what ship - browse the Index of Norwegian departures 1825 - 1925
The Norwegian Emigration Center (you can pay someone) Stavanger Does genealogy work for all of Norway, Gives tips on internet - sources, Arranges genealogy - courses, Acts as a contact liason between families in Norway and the USA
Data and Genealogy in Norway (DIS-Norge) DIS-Norge, The Genealogy Society of Norway-DIS, is the largest association for genealogists in Norway, with over 10000 members. DIS-Norge was founded on January 12th, 1990. The mission of the association is to create a nationwide forum for family and personal history in which computers and the Internet are used as aid. We have made abook about how to produce stories from your genealogical research, focusing on producing, not only collecting. We have organized our work using the Internet and email for many purposes. Genealogy Forum (Slektsforum – a query board) and DISchat are services that allow contact between the members and where answers to questions about genealogy and any issue related to genealogy can be obtained.
The Norwegian American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library in Madison, Wisconsin is an educational non-profit research center with national and international scope. Its not free. They collect, preserve, share, and interpret resources for the study of Norwegian heritage. Through their collections, research, outreach, and publications, they strive to maintain and enhance their role as the most comprehensive source for information about the history of Norwegian immigration. Expert researchers are on hand to aid you. The research staff has among them a depth of experience, making it possible for them to answer requests and conduct research in the most time efficient way. NAGC & NL is a leading research center for Norwegian-American genealogy and family history.