“Build a Better Family Tree with Brick & Mortar Research” – By Michelle Spencer
Presentation Most of us chase our ancestors through census lines, vital records, and the usual paper trail, but their work lives often hold the missing clues. By exploring a family business, trade, or industry, you can open new doors when … read more
Land for the Landless: Homestead Records and How to Use Them in Your Research – By Amber Oldenburg
Presentation The Homestead Act of 1862 opened millions of acres of land for settlement across 30 states. Interested individuals needed to meet certain criteria before the land could gain title to this land. The records created from this process are … read more
Utilizing Ancestry’s Databases: Beyond Search – By Cari A. Taplin
Presentation This lecture is designed to help researchers move past the limitations of general search queries and harness the power of Ancestry’s vast collections more effectively. By understanding the difference between the “collection period” and a more “focused research period” … read more
Immigrant Cluster Communities: Past, Present and Future – By Lisa A. Alzo
Presentation There are a handful of “cluster” immigrant communities throughout the United States that blossomed during the immigration influx of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Exploring “cluster genealogy”—the process of researching those relatives, friends, and neighbors who lived … read more
Combining DNA and Genealogical Detective Work to Discover a Rowdy G-Grandfather: A DNA Case Study – By Bobski Masson
Presentation In the middle of the Great Depression, a rough-and-tumble cowboy from Canada ended up in Wyoming using an alias and with two kids in tow. He then disappeared, leaving the kids and their mother—and a mystery—behind. We describe the … read more
Exploring the Community: Researching Beyond Your Ancestor – By Julia A. Anderson
Presentation Our ancestors didn’t live in a void. Events and people in their communities, region, and world affected their decisions and other factors in their lives. We can learn much more about our families when we research their friends, neighbors, … read more
“Going to the Court House” – By James Thornhill
Presentation Ever wonder what treasures await you in the courthouse where your ancestor lived? This presentation will help you prepare for your visit before you leave, and then show you what records to look for and what gems you might … read more
“Reconstructing Communities Using Sanborn Maps, Census Records, and City Directories” – By Ari Wilkins
Presentation Recreating neighborhoods can provide rich and insightful details about an ancestor’s life and surroundings. This lecture will demonstrate ways to build a map using Sanborn Fire insurance maps, census records, and city directories in Google Maps. Speaker Ari Wilkins, … read more
“Our Quaker Ancestors: Their History and the Records They Left” – By Annette Burke Lyttle
Presentation Quakers were prolific record keepers, and their minutes can document family relationships, migrations, and community life in extraordinary detail. Learn key Quaker history, how meetings were organized, and where to find the records that make Quaker research so rewarding. … read more