Out of the basement and into the museum
Two presentations from the January 8, 2025 meeting of the UMRA Family History Interest group:
Vicki Gaylord's presentation is titled, "Out of the Basement & Into the Museums and Archives." She shared her experiences identifying family belongings that have historic value outside the family, and donating them to museums and archives. There is a handout from Vicki that will be available on the UMRA FHIG website.
Craig Swan’s presentation is titled “You Never Know What You Might Discover.” He talks about how an unexpected DNA match led to new family discoveries including tales of sex, sin and scandal.
Out of the basement and into the museum
Wed, Jan 8, 2025, 10am
The UMRA Family History Group meeting on Wednesday, January 8, will feature presentations by Vicki Gaylord and Craig Swan, both of whom will discuss what they’ve learned from the treasure troves of family belongings that have come their way.
When Gaylord inherited hundreds of objects that had been saved by several generations of her family, her basement became a temporary home for many. Over time, as she sorted through them, she felt it was important to consider whether some could be of historic value and be donated to museums and archives. In her presentation, she will share some of her experiences identifying and researching family belongings that have historic value outside the family, and the process she went through in donating them to museums and archives around the country.
You never know what you might discover
An unexpected DNA match led Craig Swan to new family discoveries including tales of sex, sin, and scandal. In his presentation, he will share what unfolded after February 2024 when he learned of a new AncestryDNA match who turned out to be a second cousin once removed. It’s a story that revealed a (previously) well-kept family secret, and led Swan to a wealth of materials including 50-plus letters written between 1841 and 1850.
An email with the link to join the Zoom meeting will be emailed to all UMRA members one week before the meeting. We hope you can join us.
—Craig Swan, FHIG co-chair
Upcoming Events
Wood Lake Nature Center is a peaceful 150-acre cattail marsh, woodland, and restored prairie that is a haven for migrating birds and waterfowl. This UMRA hike is a great opportunity for those who would like a shorter, easier hike. The trails are dirt, grass, and woodchip, with some bridges and a bit of paved trails. Only a couple small hills to navigate, the park is mostly flat.
University of Minnesota Regent Penny Wheeler, MD, will be the featured guest for the UMRA luncheon forum on May 20. In place of the usual speech format for our forums, Regent Wheeler will be interviewed by UMRA member and liaison to the Board of Regents John Finnegan, professor and dean emeritus of the U of M School of Public Health.
I, Claudius by English writer Robert Graves, published in 1934, will be up for discussion when UMRA's Fourth Friday Book Club meets via Zoom on May 23.
June is the perfect time for an urban hike! Bev will lead a 4-mile hike from Lake Nokomis Community Center along Minnehaha Creek to Minnehaha Falls and back.
The UMRA Photo Club will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in the meeting room of the Hennepin County St. Anthony Branch Library, in the small shopping center at New Brighton and St. Anthony Boulevards.
The theme is hats.
Join Michael for a 4-to-5-mile hike at one of the most popular parks in the West Metro, Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington. It is located at the north end of Hyland Lake Park Reserve at 8737 East Bush Lake Road in Bloomington.
The UMRA Book Club will discuss The Great River by Boyce Upton when it meets via Zoom on June 20.
Learn about writing memoirs, technology for seniors, campus architecture, and more at the fourth annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held in the McNamara Alumni Center on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis on Monday, June 23.
Catch up with friends and former colleagues, meet new UMRA members, enjoy delicious food, and participate in the third annual UMRA Summer Social Quiz at the Como Lakeside Pavilion in St. Paul on Wednesday, June 25.
The UMRA Hiking Club will hike two wonderful county parks in Monticello, MN on Monday, July 7. Lynn Anderson will lead the hikes and we will meet at her home at 9:30 a.m. and carpool from there.
Our July 14 "hike" is a kayaking adventure on Bde Maka Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun) and Lake of the Isles led by Barb Friedman and Bev Moe.
Join hike leader Nanette Hanks on August 4th for a “Trail in Two Cities” hike.