Sure, we will find names, dates and homes of our ancestors by checking birth records, draft cards, the Census, and death certificates. But what other historical details will we find? The hints often are hiding in plain sight! And the findings are enough to help us create not just a basic timeline, but a rich story of the people who came before us. Join local historian and author Tricia Velure to glimpse a few of the interesting stories she’s uncovered and learn how you can do the same in your family research.

This event is free and open to the public.

Tricia Velure is a personal historian who helps elders share their life stories with their families. Known for being easy to talk to and interested in life’s everyday details, Tricia has been talking with elders about “the old days” since she was a young girl dunking cookies in her grandma’s coffee. She grew up on her family’s cattle and small grains farm near Kathryn, North Dakota, where she was her father’s official parts runner and helped her mom cook every meal from scratch. After earning degrees in English and history from Valley City State University, Tricia received a master’s degree in history from North Dakota State University in 1998. Her subsequent 20-year career in public relations further developed her love of researching, interviewing, writing, and archiving. In 2019, she started her own business, Storyography, to interview elders and preserve those stories for their kids and grandkids. Tricia lives in suburban Saint Paul, Minnesota, and is an avid traveler, research buff, and big fan of visiting. She loves to return to the farm, which four generations of her family have operated since 1904.