Genealogy Research Institute of Pittsburgh - Registration Opens Wednesday

Get ready to watch the clock for Noon on Wednesday as registration for the Genealogy Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) will begin. There are courses that will be very popular, so you may have to be fast to get a seat. GRIP registration will open on Wednesday, February 12th at Noon Eastern for the six courses in Pittsburgh from Sunday July 20 – Friday July 25. There will be a second registration on Tuesday, February 25th at Noon Eastern for the four August courses in Orchard Lake, Michigan.

You may want to look at the Tips for Quickly Getting Through Registration prepared by Elissa Scalise Powell, CG, CGL and Deborah Litchner Deal, the directors of GRIP. With the lineup of new course and excellent instructors, the institute is sure to sell out.

Here are the courses you have to choose from:

Intermediate Genealogy: Tools for Digging Deeper
Coordinator: Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA

Instructors Debbie Mieszala, CG, and D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS

Are you beyond the beginning stages of researching your family history? You probably have checked the basic records and done online searches but still have blanks to fill in. Maybe you need to gain more leads and judge the records but need some analytical skills for that. We will delve deeper into a variety of records, some that you may have never heard about, and where they may be accessed. During the week there will be some hands-on projects, small group discussions, and full class interaction as we develop research plans, delve into the records, and learn what may get those blanks filled in. The camaraderie of solving problems as a group leads us to great insight and also some fun.

The class covers 19th through 21st century U.S. records and includes online resources. Prior to the course students will be able to send the coordinator a brief research issue of their own along with a listing of the U.S. places where their ancestors resided and what has already been researched. The course includes some “homework” that is optional but highly suggested. Students often find they like those learning exercises. An extensive syllabus including online resources is provided.

Finding and Documenting African-American Families
Coordinators: J. Mark Lowe, CG, FUGA and Debbie A. Abbott, Ph.D.

Discovering evidence of African American families can be difficult and sometimes impossible. Learn to follow proven strategies to gather and analyze a variety of record types while building upon strong foundations. We will use a framework of five cases to illustrate how to apply the evidence in each particular case. Records will require hands-on project discovery time.

Determining Kinship Reliably with the Genealogical Proof Standard
Coordinator: Thomas W. Jones, Ph.D., CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS

Instructor Karen Mauer Green, CG

Through lecture, discussions, and many hands-on activities, students will learn how to achieve genealogical proof by planning and executing focused research, citing the resulting sources, testing the evidence they contain, assembling that evidence into a conclusion, and explaining it clearly. This course is based on the content of Mastering Genealogical Proof (Arlington, Va.: National Genealogical Society, 2013) and uses exercises from that textbook. Family historians of various skill levels may find this course helpful.

Becoming an Online Expert: Mastering Search Engines and Digital Archives
Coordinator: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS

Instructors Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA and Debra Mieszala, CG

Explore the online world of records and repositories by efficiently being able to search for them. Learn the methods and tools to overcome database index challenges and find information on your family that is hidden in layers of webpages. Mornings feature “Expert Insider Tricks,” featuring a professional genealogist’s personal tricks for making the most from a subscription website, while afternoons include in-depth discussions and hands-on learning.

Practical Genetic Genealogy
Coordinator: Debbie Parker Wayne, CG, CGL

Instructors CeCe Moore and Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D.

From the basics of genetic genealogy to advanced autosomal analysis to the integration of DNA into projects meeting the Genealogical Proof Standard, this course covers all aspects of DNA testing and the use of DNA in genealogical research.

 

Law School for Genealogists
Coordinators: Judy G. Russell, J.D., CG, CGL and Richard “Rick” G. Sayre, CG, CGL Instructor Marian L. Smith

From Freshman Orientation to Graduation, Law School for Genealogists covers the waterfront as to the elements of the law that directly impact genealogical research: the legal systems underlying the records; the court systems; record series resulting from the legislative and judicial process; and topical treatments of the law of wills and estates, property, marriage, divorce, military service, immigration and naturalization and more.