UWM Author Gives Tips on Finding Your Roots

MILWAUKEE - The Internet and personal computers have given families new tools to help them trace their roots. Kim Baugrud, adjunct professor of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has written a book and designed courses to help families find their family history.

Baugrud just published "Searching For Your Family", a practical guide to genealogy.

In addition, Baugrud, in collaboration with Phyllis Tragash, adjunct instructor/academic staff in the School of Information Studies, will be offering classes in African genealogy this spring through the UWM Cultures and Communities program. The classes, which are co-sponsored by America's Black Holocaust Museum and UWM's School of Information Studies, will be offered April 5-6 and April 19-20 at the museum, 2233 N. 4th St. The Friday sessions are 6-9 p.m. and the Saturday sessions are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Baugrud a professor at UWM and UW-Parkside for 31 years, continues to teach genealogy courses and workshops as an adjunct instructor since retiring. His interest in genealogy grew out of his own experiences tracing his family history back to the late 1780s for his maternal ancestors in Ireland and as far back as the 1300s for his paternal family in Norway.

As he began responding to questions raised by students in his classes and workshops, he became more knowledgeable about the subject and began offering classes and workshops in genealogical research. The book grew out of his continuing interest in sharing what he had learned and taught others about how to do genealogical research, Baugrud says. Genealogy is the most popular hobby in the world, he says, and computers and the Internet have made it even more popular by making it easier to find, sort and communicate information. Baugrud will be signing copies of his book March 21 at 7 p.m. at the Harry W. Schwartz Bookstore in Brookfield, 17145 Bluemound.

The April genealogy class in African genealogy grew out of the longstanding relationship between UWM's School of Information Studies and the Black Holocaust Museum.

"We as an organization feel it's important to link the history we present at the Museum with African genealogy, says Jessie Leonard, Executive Director of the Museum. The Museum frequently gets requests from students and the African-American community for information on how to do genealogical research. "There's a continued interest in building family trees."

Many African-Americans find challenges in tracing family trees back to Africa because slaves couldn't write, families were separated, slave ships' manifests didn't list names, and African names were replaced with American surnames when slaves were freed after the Civil War, according to Leonard and Baugrud. "Because of the lack of written documents, many people think tracing their history back to African tribes would be too difficult," says Leonard. With new tools, it is possible and easier than it was in the past, she and Baugrud say. The class will show researchers how to use new tools like personal computers and the Internet.

Baugrud adds that these new tools make searching easier than ever for people of all nationalities because vast amounts of public records, census data, church files, and oral histories are now compiled on websites and CD-ROMs. The vast genealogical archives that the Mormon Church has compiled and historic U.S. Census records are now available on CD-ROM, notes Baugrud, allowing researchers to work anywhere they can access a computer. Comptuers also make it easier and faster for family historians to share their research and communicate quickly with other family members.

In addition to searching these types of records, families should also remember they can also find good clues in family Bibles, letters and address books, says Baugrud. "Almost every family has someone who writes down the basics -who married whom, how many children they had and what they named them."

Baugrud's website, http://www.uwm.edu/~baugrud offers an outline of the information and tips from his book as well as a detailed list of links to other genealogical resources.

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Here are details of the upcoming classes Baugrud is offering:

African genealogy at America's Black Holocaust Museum. April 5-6 or April 19-20. Cost is $30 for the general public. The class can also be taken for one graduate or undergraduate credit through UWM with the payment of the course fee. Bring a brown bag lunch for the Saturday sessions. Contact Phyllis Tragash, 414-229-3627, mailto:ptrasgash@sois.uwm.edu for additional information.

Continuing Education workshops in genealogy through the School of Information Studies, offered April 12 or April 27 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Room 521 Bolton Hall. Cost is $59; bring a brown bag lunch. Contact Tragash for information.

"Searching for Your Family: Beginner's Guide to Genealogy" April 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. University Center for Continuing Education, 161 W. Wisconsin Ave, Suite 6000. Bring a brown bag lunch. Cost is $40. To register, call 414-227-3200.

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