---

If you have interest in genealogy or tracing your ancestors' stories through public records-- there's a group forming under the Chisago County Historical Society umbrella that might help you jump start your efforts and could be a fun way to network with people of similar interests.

A computerized ancestry data base is being made available through the East Central Regional Library and there's a meeting Monday, at 10 a.m., at the Chisago Lakes Area Branch Library where ancestry.com will be unveiled and training in its use will be offered.

The library is not open normally at this time, so you must pre-register with the historical society in order to participate. Contact 257-5310 and leave a message.

Sherry Stirling, Chisago County Historical Society Director and Bob Porter, local historian, shared information about this special Internet class with a few people who attended the genealogy group kick-off session, Sunday at the Lindstrom History Center. (The History Center is housed in a Victorian residence north of Hwy. 8-- at the corner of Third Avenue North, and Olinda North.)

A couple of visitors mentioned how the Internet has opened up a whole new avenue for finding relatives and uncovering stories about relatives. There are wesbites where gravestone information is posted, obituary notices are available or you can post one of somebody you're researching and chances are good somebody will contact you electronically. One history center meeting visitor said the country of Norway, especially, has been aggressive in digitizing local historic records and very valuable information can be located on-line.

The county Historical Society has many records and textbooks available for research, Stirling said. She and Porter walked meeting participants through the list of materials in the society libraries and shared tips about other resources.

The genealogy group is just beginning to plan its regular schedule and decide on field trips and speakers of interest. Potentially the group would like to visit the Latter Day Saints Libraries in Oakdale and Crystal, or perhaps travel to the U of M Immigration Library, among other locales.

Best to call first

Stirling said during winter months the best way to get access to the society records is to call the history center's voice mail and arrange for an appointment. In warm weather months, when there's more visitors and tourists, Stirling is usually at the history center nearly full-time, but for the next couple of months appointments are encouraged.

The phone is the same as the number for registering for the Jan. 28 Internet training, 257-5310.

Among the documents that the county historical society can supply you:

~ Tax records and land deed transactions (most are duplicate of what's at County Government Center)

~ Microfilm of historic newspapers, there have been about 20 different papers published (some are in Swedish though) in the county since the late 1800s.

~ County cemetery inventory

~Plat maps

~ The 1880 and 1900 federal census for the county.

The library also has assorted history books for youth who may be researching a project for school or for Scouting badges.

The vital records such as marriage certificates, birth and death certificates, however, are not housed with the society. Some townships and cities also have these in storage, but accessible and the county government center houses these records.

---