Today Julie Miller, CGSM, opened my eyes to a whole group of sources that I had missed in documenting my family's westward migration, the Emigrant Guides. They could be published in English or in the immigrant's original language. Often steamship companies published the guides. There are guides for people contemplating moving to the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. There are reverse guides as well, for people in the British Commonwealth contemplating moving to the U.K.
When my mother and I planned our trip to Sweden and Denmark in 1978, we asked Grandma Anderson where the family came from. She said Minnesota. Inspired by Julie, I located an early Minnesota Emigrant Guide. Many of the great information Julie discussed is there. Chapter 16 discusses why people move to the "northwest." Chapters 17 and 18 are about buying land there. I guess I have some reading planned after I get home.
This session has been taped. During the conference you can buy it from the JAMB-INC booth in the main conference hall. After the conference, it will be available online at http://www.jamb-inc.com/category/genealogy. This is session S411 under the heading 2013 NGS Conference/Las Vegas, NV.
