In This Issue: Pedigree Collapse
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VOLUME 40 | NUMBER 1 | FALL 2016 In this issue: PEDIGREE COLLAPSE Finding Ancestral Names GENETIC CONNECTIVITY, OR THREE DEGREES OF SEPARATION for Newborns A medical condition? A crisis at dog shows? No – it’s a concept that researchers in Norwegian heritage need to be aware of. In a new webinar about Norwegian naming patterns that is now available on the NAGC website (nagcnl.org), Jerry Paulson offers some fascinating details about the syndrome known as pedigree Annual Benefit Dinner collapse. This is a notion that must be familiar to all of us as we conduct the research to fill out our family trees. Particularly important in Norwegian genealogy, where our ancestors were isolated by geography for centuries, pedigree collapse is better understood by specific examples. Jerry Paulson uses the history of his Genealogical research trip own family to demonstrate this curious phenomenon. to the Family History Pedigree Collapse in Norwegian and Norwegian-American Genealogy Library by Jerry Paulson, Naeseth Chair for Genealogical Research and Publication This is an issue that you need to understand: the further back in time you go, the number of ancestors you have may not necessarily increase as rapidly as you might expect. You start with yourself, and then your next Notes from the Naeseth generation includes two parents, then four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, and your family tree continues to grow going backwards. Based upon that logical progression, if you were to calculate the number Library of your ancestors in ten generations, you would need to identify 1,024 people. Using that formula, if you go back 40 generations, to about the year 1115 A.D., you would have more than Letter from America a trillion ancestors, much more than the number of people who were then alive! (For our purposes, we define a genealogical generation as lasting between 20 and 25 years; for my calculations, I used 22.5 years to define a generation.) 2017 Class Schedule It’s estimated that 80 percent of historical marriages have taken place between second (or closer) cousins. If every marriage took place between second cousins, and you trace back 30 generations, to about 1340 A.D., you would still need to have over 4 million ancestors at that time. All modern Europeans have a common ancestor who lived in about the year 1400 A.D. In Norway, the Black Death struck in 1349 A.D., and depleted the population by about 50 percent. All people today of Norwegian heritage are descended from the approximately 50 percent of the population that survived the New for 2016! plague, mixed with other ethnic groups who settled in Norway. In my own family, my mother’s parents were third cousins. Going back four generations, I have common Olive Nordby parents, which causes pedigree collapse. On my father’s side of the family, my sixth great-grandparents (one each on my maternal and paternal sides) were brothers. All this makes for some interesting relationships in Christmas and a family. My own children have no interest in genealogy at the present time, with this exception: they are fascinated by pedigree collapse. They find it amazing that my son and I are related not only as father and Note Cards son, but also as multiple cousins. My two children are not only brother and sister, but also multiple cousins to each other. See page 11 for full details My son and I are related as My son and daughter are related as and to order. Father and son Brother and sister Fifth cousins, once removed x 2 Sixth Cousins x 2 Eighth cousins Eighth cousins once removed x 2 Seventh cousins twice removed Ninth cousins once removed x 2 Eighth cousins twice removed x 2 Ninth cousins This is what my kids find interesting about genealogy! Note: For Jerry’s fascinating clarification of what “removed” means when applied to cousins, consult his webinar called “Norwegian Naming Patterns” on www.nagcnl.org. NAGC website webinars are free and available to all researchers, made possible by generous support from The Edwin E. and Janet L. Bryant Foundation. GREETING FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS What an exciting time to be part of the Norwegian American Genealogical Center! This issue of Published two times a year by Norwegian Tracks offers a fresh look at what makes our research center such a useful resource for the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library (NAGC & NL) Norwegian-American community. We feature here stories and photographs that show some innovative 415 W. Main Street ways in which we are serving genealogical research. One of the most charming accounts begins on page Madison, WI 53703-3116 three, an interesting tale of how Jerry Paulson’s research helped a couple in Norway decide upon their 608-255-2224 www.nagcnl.org newborn’s name. Sent to members of NAGC & NL For membership, contact: Our cover story, “Pedigree Collapse” by Jerry Paulson, grew out of Jerry’s new webinar about Norwegian Norwegian American Genealogical Center naming patterns that is now available on the NAGC website, www.nagcnl.org. Pedigree collapse is a & Naeseth Library (NAGC & NL) hot topic these days as more genealogists explore its implications and complexities. Explaining this 415 W. Main Street Madison, WI 53703-3116 phenomenon in a clear and concise way, Jerry helps make researchers aware of this mind-boggling 608-255-2224 www.nagcnl.org concept. [email protected] _________________________ The article on pages eight and nine features the wonderful translation services offered at NAGC by The purpose of this publication is to assist and Solveig Quinney. Solveig has been quite busy these last months, as more and more people discover how encourage genealogists with Norwegian and expert she is at reading and translating Norwegian letters, documents, and records of all sorts. During Norwegian-American genealogical questions. her research, Solveig found an 1850 America letter of great interest, and recommended that it would be Norwegian Tracks is the sole possession of NAGC of value to our readers. Her translation appears here and may be the first time that this fascinating letter, & NL. All rights are reserved. No reproduction with its details about immigration, has been published in English. by mechanical or other means without written permission from the editor. We endeavor to Page four includes a story about the experience of one researcher, Dr. Scott Johnson, who has become a respect copyright in a manner consistent with our nonprofit educational mission. valued and generous friend to the staff at NAGC. Letters concerning genealogical inquiries for Elsewhere in this issue, you will find photographs and details that describe the vibrant life in the Naeseth Norwegian Tracks should be sent to Norwegian Library over the past months, with visitors, volunteers, and workers of all kinds. We feature as well a American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library photo essay by Arthur Andersen on our most recent Madison-area (NAGC & NL) 415 W. Main Street, Madison, WI 53703-3116 Friends event that show-cased the talent of the young Norwegian violinist, Skogen Sällström, in a performance that thrilled his audience. Norwegian Tracks occasionally solicits or accepts unsolicited copy and artwork for publication. Plans are underway for a busy 2017; see news here about the classes Written material is subject to editing for length, that will be held at the Naeseth Library next summer, as well as the first grammar, and accuracy of content. As a rule, no compensation will be given for any accepted announcement of NAGC’s October 2017 tour to the world-famous material. NAGC & NL reserves first serial publication Family History Library in Salt Lake City. You will also find updates and reprint rights, but releases all other rights on our important endowment campaign and the description of a new for subsequent publication back to the author or artists. card for Christmas designed by the late Olive Nordby. The Norwegian American Genealogical Center We hope you enjoy these articles that help explain how deserving the & Naeseth Library is an educational non-profit mission at NAGC is of your support. As you make plans for your research center with national and international philanthropic gifts this year-end, please remember the great work scope. The Center collects, preserves, shares, and interprets resources for the study of Norwegian that goes on here, worthy of your annual support, as well as your heritage. consideration as you make your long-term estate plans. Lowell E. Olberg Chairman To carry out this mission, the Center provides: With many thanks, • The Naeseth Library, located in Board of Directors Madison,Wisconsin, where resources devoted to Norwegian and Norwegian- American genealogy are collected, preserved, shared, and interpreted; • Assistance, interpretation, education, and research by trained staff to members, patrons, and correspondents; • Continuing education and outreach for genealogists and the public worldwide through cooperative information exchanges, .publications, tours, displays, seminars, and merchandise sales. NAGC & NL is open to the public Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please telephone Arne Sunde from Balestrand (Sogn og Fjordane) arranged for this group of 23 Norwegians to ahead, 608-255-2224. An appointment is needed to visit the Naeseth Library in late July. Visitors had an opportunity to trace some of their relatives ensure staff availability and record accessibility. who had immigrated to America. 2 NORWEGIAN TRACKS • VOLUME 40 • NO. 1 • FALL 2016 FINDING ANCESTRAL NAMES FOR NEWBORNS Last March, Jerry Paulson, NAGC’s Naeseth Chair for Genealogical Research and Publication, received an intriguing request from an American who was seeking information about an ancestor of his Norwegian wife. The couple, Alexander Klose and Anette Kyvik, met in 2002 when they were exchange students in Spain.