National Reporter Presenting to St. Cloud Genealogy Club

(KNSI) – The St. Cloud Genealogy Club will host a presentation on Tuesday, January 16th, from reporter Anne Hanson.

The talk is on Hanson’s new book about uncovering the secrets of her grandparents. Hanson says the story of Frank and Ida is a uniquely American one.

“In American history, we have the tradition of, ‘Go West, young man!’ People could and did reinvent themselves. Sometimes for positive reasons, sometimes because they were running from something.”

Hanson says it has become nearly impossible to disappear and start over in the modern age like her grandparents did. She also talks about how the journey helped connect her with her own father, who only knew the half truths he had been told.

Hanson has been published in major newspapers like the Boston Globe. She spent seven years at Minnesota Daily, published by the U of M. She talks about the tools anyone can use to learn more about their family. Hanson says to start with government records.

“The U.S. Census that’s taken every ten years, that becomes public information 72 years after it’s done. So, you can find street-by-street information about your ancestors from 1950 and earlier.”

She says school records and probate court are other options that often tell a lot about someone’s history. Another potential source is city directories, the precursor to the White Pages.

The presentation costs ten dollars for non-members. Tickets are on sale now. The talk starts at 7:00 p.m. A press release says, “Non-members should email kmsauer@ymail.com at least one day prior to the event. Once paid, you will receive details on how to attend.”

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