Who Are These people?
Watch the video below to hear how Ilene Alexander, while searching for information about her ancestors, became part of a “Not Parent Expected” category of people whose DNA test brought unexpected discoveries.
A paternity surprise
Wed, Sep 3, 2025, 10am
You are invited to join the UMRA Family History Interest Group meeting from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, via Zoom for a presentation by UMRA member Ilene Dawn “Ida” Alexander titled “Who are these people?” or “How did a slew of Ancestry matches to descendants of the three wives of a Mormon convert, banished from his Iowa family, let me begin to acknowledge—on what would have been my raising-up father’s 88th birthday—that my genetic makeup included a paternity surprise?”
Here’s a bit more about what to expect, in our presenter’s own words:
“In 2018, rather than joining my dad’s cousin in learning about descendants of my third great-grandparents’ siblings, who’d stayed in Wales, I became part of a then, still rather new, “Not Parent Expected” category of people whose DNA spit test brought unexpected discoveries.
“In this presentation, I’ll explore how and why returning to my trees made it possible for me to understand myself among the other people who had [not] gone missing from my raising-up, maternal, and ‘bio-dude’ family genealogical stories across multiple generations.”
A Zoom invite will be sent to all UMRA members one month and again one week before the program. We hope you can join us.
—Lynn C. Anderson and Craig Swan, co-chairs, Family History Interest Group
Upcoming Events
The theme for December is historical family photos. Join us for photography and fun.
There are a few fun events coming up at the Campus Club that are open to everyone. See these events on the Campus Club Facebook and Instagram.
Meeting to plan books for next year.
There has been a lot in the news recently about the University of Minnesota Medical School, University of Minnesota Physicians, and Fairview Health Services. Please join us at breakfast on January 8 for a respectful and engaging discussion of their relationship.
The theme for January is great MN views.
Developing a sense of identity is a central psychological task of the lifespan. Memories and stories from our personal past, as well as cultural memories and stories in society play key roles in how we develop our identities. This presentation will discuss psychological theory and research on how memories and stories make us who we are.
When you are of Icelandic descent you can trace your ancestors back to around 1200 and sometimes further.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens.
Here’s another great opportunity to buy discounted tickets and join your UMRA friends to cheer for the Gophers when the Women’s Basketball team hosts the Purdue Boilermakers at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on February 1.
UMRA’s special event for this winter will again be a celebration of brighter days and the approaching end of winter. We’ll have food, fellowship, and music provided by Urban Sound, one of the University’s premier student a cappella ensembles.
Family history with Jim Kurle. A tale of Swedish emigration to Dunn County, North Dakota, including my grandfather whose unusual relationship to several churches and religion in general was one of the reasons for his emigrating.
Growing Up by Russell Baker.