Presentation:

Learn how adoptees and others find biological parents and siblings through DNA testing. Review the case that started it all and see today’s recommended strategies. View examples of surprise discoveries and see the tools used to identify relationships.

Speaker:

Richard Hill was the first adoptee to identify his birth family through DNA tests for genetic genealogy. He shared the story of his decades-long search in an award-winning book, “Finding Family: My Search for Roots and the Secrets in My DNA.” His Kindle Short Book, “Guide to DNA Testing,” provides readers with just enough information to choose the proper DNA tests for their needs. He has founded two websites on DNA testing, most recently DNAFavorites.com.

Richard gives presentations on genetic genealogy topics both virtually and in person. He is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. He lives in Michigan with his wife of 57 years and two cats.

This is a Zoom only meeting.

Please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_dfK60S8Q4-9KhdsVUD6TA

Presentation:

Our ancestors relied heavily on Justices of the Peace and local courts to settle disputes, even more so than today. A few cases help illustrate the reasons and the type of information found in these records that can aid in your knowledge about the community dynamics and lifestyles of your ancestors and their FAN club.

Speaker:

The author of two books of historical nonfiction, Eilene Lyon has spent decades researching families (hers and others’) to piece together narrative stories about the past. Fortune’s Frenzy: A California Gold Rush Odyssey, revealing previously unknown aspects of the gold rush, is a Spur Awards finalist and winner of a Will Rogers Bronze medallion. What Lies Beneath Colorado Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards explores the hidden personal trials and triumphs discovered in Colorado’s oldest cemeteries.

Eilene lives in Durango, Colorado, where she explores the San Juan Mountains for plants, animals, history, and good food (wine optional). When it snows, she skis. When warm and dry, she hits the mountain bike trails. In summer she doggedly coaxes food and flowers from the poor local soil. She writes regularly on her blog, Myricopia, and has published articles in local and regional genealogy and history magazines. She shares her passion for family history by giving presentations on history, research, writing, and genealogy to local, regional, and national audiences, helping others to know their ancestors with greater compassion and historical context.

This is a Zoom only meeting.

Please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YcHmwS9wTfOLpEI3Z26ABw

Presentation:

Artificial intelligence can be a powerful assistant in genealogical research and writing. In this session, we will explore practical applications of AI, including locating records, transcribing historical documents, suggesting research avenues, and drafting ancestor sketches.

Speaker:

Glenn York is a professional genealogist with decades of research experience across the United States. He began genealogical research in the 1980s at the National Archives and the Library of Congress.

He uses a wide range of technology and resources to research his family and assist others with research.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in social science and a master’s degree in telecommunications and has completed more than a dozen genealogical institute courses.

Glenn is a past President of the Larimer County Genealogical Society and serves as delegate to the National Genealogical Society for the Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies. Glenn York is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, National Genealogical Society, Genealogical Speakers Guild, and other historical organizations.

Glenn facilitates monthly DNA study groups, teaches genealogy classes, and volunteers at a local library. He also administers the BATES and RALEY Y-DNA surname projects and co-administers the Colonial Swedish DNA Project at Family Tree DNA.

This is a Zoom only meeting.

Please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/huwocniDQK2rQoeom-afkQ

Presentation:

Let’s explore 50 off-the-beaten-path websites of interest to genealogists – a quick snapshot of these mostly free and genealogically relevant resources that have caught my eye, from websites large to small, broad to narrow, based in the US or abroad.  Many of these are home-grown databases created by an organization, entity, or sometimes just one person.  You might find an invaluable piece of information.

Let’s look at some hidden gems available at your fingertips that you might not be aware of. You will discover at least one (and usually more) new-to-you resources that fit your current research needs.  Or squirrel these resources away for a rainy day in the future. Even if some of these resources may not obviously suit your current research needs, I guarantee you will want to check them out!  Many of these are already in my genealogy research toolkit.  After a recent update, 40 of the 50 original websites are still included and relevant – they are that useful to genealogy research!

Speaker:

Provides professional genealogical services, including research, lectures, and writing. Longtime editor of the NC Genealogical Society journal. Author of 600+ articles and many talks about the availability and richness of underutilized genealogically relevant records with a focus on southern, enslaved/FPOC, and women.  She also provides research tips, techniques, tools, strategies, etc. Owner of MosaicRPM, co-owner of GenWebinars and Tar Heel Discoveries, and Vice President of NC Historical Records Online (NCHRO).

This is a Zoom only meeting.

Please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/x6Jz_3CsS_CDrh4jwdDHVQ

Presentation:

You’ve got matches, ethnicity charts, maybe even cousin overload. But what does it all mean, and how can it help your genealogy? This session is for those who’ve tested but aren’t sure where to go next. We’ll cut through the confusion and show how DNA can unlock real discoveries about your family’s past.

Speaker:

Bob Masson—aka Bobski—is a retired high-tech marketing pro who loves living at the crossroads of technology and genealogy. From supercomputers and genomics to witnessing the first human genome draft in 2001, he’s seen it all. Today, he applies DNA and AI to genealogical research, consults, volunteers helping seniors navigate technology, explores Colorado’s outdoors, and enjoys life with his wife Connie and four daughters.

This is a Zoom only meeting.

Please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ICa-oIk9QlS0PC5TCxQ2-w

Presentation

From bounty land to pensions, there are no shortage of genealogical records for soldiers from The War of 1812.  Learn why these records were created, how to make sense of them, and what those records can contain for your ancestors.

Speaker

Brian Rhinehart is a professional genealogist and speaker and is the owner of CivilWarRecords.com.  He is a graduate of Boston University’s Certificate of Genealogy Research and is a regular researcher for the television show Finding Your Roots.  A direct descendant of eight Civil War soldiers, Brian specializes in research and record retrieval for Civil War and War of 1812 soldiers at the National Archives in Washington DC and has retrieved military files for hundreds of clients there.

This is a Zoom only meeting.

Please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/bfbY-G2gTg64ci4FlxuyOA

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 traditional research hits a dead end.
This lecture shows you how to look at familiar sources in fresh ways and introduces
underused records that reveal the professional worlds your ancestors inhabited. You'll
walk away with new strategies, new resources, and a stronger, more three-dimensional
family tree.

Speaker

Michelle L. Spencer, owner of RomaMaryGrace, is a specialist in family business
research, small towns, and historic preservation. With more than 30 years of experience,
she has lectured at major genealogical institutions and the WWI Museum & Memorial.
She has co-authored over 60 National Register of Historic Places nominations, and her
work has appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? and Finding Your Roots. Find her at
romamarygrace.com or on YouTube @romamarygrace1909.

This is a Zoom only meeting.

Please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8lxOIeYIQVKzO7a_IquAmw