2016 Virtual Genealogy Fair

The National Archives has announced the presentation topics for the 2016 Virtual Genealogy Fair which will be held Wednesday, October 26th and Thursday, October 27th, 2016. 

In this annual two-day event archivists and employees of the National Archives give presentations on records NARA holds that are of interest to genealogists. The fair is free, and can be viewed online. You can download the handouts and follow along with the presenters.

You do not need to register. Just go to the link 2016 Virtual Genealogy Fair on October 26th & 27th and watch the sessions live. If you are unable to make it to the live sessions, they will be recorded and available for viewing later on YouTube. The Virtual Genealogy Fair page has links to the web pages for previous years, if you are interested in the presentations.

Schedule for Wednesday, October 26th (Eastern Time)

10 a.m.	Welcoming Remarks by Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero
10:05 a.m.	Introduction to Genealogy at the National Archives by Claire Kluskens
11 a.m.	The Best National Archives Records Genealogists Aren't Using by Lori Cox-Paul
12 p.m.	National Archives Innovative Online Resources and Tools to Help with Your Genealogical Research by Sarah Swanson and Kelly Osborn
1 p.m.	You too can be a Citizen Archivist! Getting the most out of the National Archives Catalog by Suzanne Isaacs and Meredith Doviak
2 p.m.	Department of State Records for Genealogical Research by David Pfeiffer
3 p.m.	American Battle Monuments Commission by Ryan Bass

Schedule for Thursday, October 27th (Eastern Time)

10 a.m.	Nonpopulation Census: Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Social Statistics by Claire Kluskens
11 a.m.	The Morning After – Changes as Reflected in Morning Reports by Theresa Fitzgerald
12 p.m.	The Iwo Jima Flag Raisers – Chaos, Controversy and World War II Marine Corps Personnel Records by Bryan K. McGraw
1 p.m.	What's New in the Lou: A Look at the Latest Accessions at the National Archives at St. Louis by David Hardin
2 p.m.	The Faces of the National Parks Service by Cara L. Moore
3 p.m.	Closing Remarks by Acting Executive for Research Services Ann Cummings

Family History Library Free Webinars for March 2016

The Family History Library Announces Free Webinars for March 2016

These webinars can be viewed online through FamilySearch.org (see directions below). All times listed are Mountain time.

Mar 2 --  10:00 A.M. Spanish Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 5 -- 1:00 P.M. Improve Your Search Results in FamilySearch Hispanic Records

Mar 8 -- 1:00 P.M. Mid-19^th Century England Case Study and Brainstorming Session

Mar 9 -- 10:00 A.M. Portuguese Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 9 -- 1:00 P.M. Learning to Read German Handwriting (2 hours)

Mar 10 -- 10:00 A.M. Cousin Research

Mar 15 -- 2:00 P.M. America to Norway: A Case Study Finding Your Ancestors’ Place of Birth

Mar 16 -- 10:00 A.M. Italian Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 17 -- 11:00 A.M. Where Is That? Finding and Understanding Places in Ireland

Mar 17 -- 1:00 P.M. Ireland Census and Census Substitutes

Mar 18 – 11:00 A.M. Ireland Catholic Church Records

Mar 18 -- 1:00 P.M. Irish Protestant Records

Mar 19 -- 1:00 P.M. Más allá de los registros indexados

Mar 23 -- 10:00 A.M. French Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 24 -- 1:00 P.M. British Virtual Specialist Q&A Session

Mar 24 -- 6:00 P.M. Understanding United States Land Records

Mar 30 -- 10:00 A.M. Dutch Records Indexing Workshop (1½ hours)

Mar 31 -- 2:00 P.M. Using Swedish Household Exams and Parish Registers, Part 1

Mar 31 -- 3:00 P.M. Using Swedish Household Exams and Parish Registers, Part 2

Webinars can be accessed by going to FamilySearch.org; click on Search; select Wiki. Type Webinars and choose the top entry. Click on 1.1 Monthly Class Schedule, then the name of the month; scroll to find the desired class.

Conducting Reasonably Exhaustive Research

This is part of my ongoing series on Educational Preparation for BCG Certification. It is not limited to those interested in certification, but provides ideas for any interested genealogist. There are links to the other articles in this series at the bottom of this post.

GPS Element #1: Conducting Reasonably Exhaustive Research

To understand “reasonably exhaustive research” you may want to study what that phrase means, and all the record types it includes.

Informal study options:

1. Study chapter 3 on “GPS Element 1: Thorough Research” in Mastering Genealogical Proof by Thomas W. Jones (Arlington, VA: National Genealogical Society, 2013).  

• Note that “six criteria help us temper the exhaustive search to make it reasonable.” (pages 23-26).
• Don’t miss table 1 on page 25 that covers “Suggestions for Identifying Sources to Answer Genealogical Questions.”

2. Read and study The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy by Val D. Greenwood, 3^rd edition (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2000). You may have already done this early in your genealogy education, but it is an excellent textbook on the basic sources genealogists use. It deserves a fresh reading every year or two. If there are any records mentioned that you do not have personal experience researching, then get to a local repository or archive and spend some serious time with the records.

Another reason to study this book:

The Board for Certification of Genealogists uses rubrics to judge the seven elements of the application portfolio. The rubric RR2 on page 3 reads:

“Research covered commonly used sources relevant to the problem and extended to those that might illuminate or challenge other findings in the time allowed; and it proceeded in a logical sequence.²”

            The footnote #2 states: “‘Commonly used sources’ are defined here as those addressed by

            chapter titles in part 2 of Val D. Greenwood, The Researcher’s Guide to American 

            Genealogy, 3rd edition (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2000).”

You will want to be familiar with, and have experience working with, all the record types that will be included in the evaluation process. Note that the rubric specifies "sources relevant to the problem." You will use your knowledge and experience to determine which sources are relevant to your specific research question. 

3. Read the following articles by Judy Kellar Fox on SpringBoard, the BCG blog:

            Are You Searching or Researching?

            What Is “Reasonably Exhaustive” Research?  

            “Reasonably Exhaustive”—How Do We Know We’re There?

4. Read the following articles by Elizabeth Shown Mills on QuickTips, the blog at Evidence Explained.com:

            Reasonably Exhaustive Research: Quantity or Quality?

5. Read the article "A Lesson in Reasonably Exhaustive Research" by Melissa A. Johnson, CG in the November 2015 edition of the NGS Monthly. Members of the National Genealogical Society can access the NGS Monthly at http://ngsmonthly.ngsgenealogy.org/

Formal study options:

6. Michael Hait, CG presented a webinar on “What is a ‘Reasonably Exhaustive Search?” for Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Since this presentation was given BCG has changed the first element of the GPS to be reasonably exhaustive “research” rather than “search.” The recorded version and handout are available to Legacy Family Tree Webinar subscribers at http://familytreewebinars.com/download.php?webinar_id=88

7. To hear an example of reasonably exhaustive research in a case study, you may want to order a CD of the lecture Reasonably Exhaustive Research: An Immigrant Case Study by F. Warren Bittner, CG, given at the FGS national conference in 2012.  

8. In the past many students took the NGS American Genealogy course (home-study or on CD) to gain experience working with a wide range of genealogical sources. This course is being replaced by a new series of online courses, American Genealogical Studies. This series looks good, but is not yet complete and so does not cover all the records types necessary for reasonably exhaustive research.

There are other courses available, and I would recommend evaluating courses by the thoroughness in the types of records they cover, and if they have assignments to work with records in repositories and archives. Hands-on experience with the records is a better teacher than just reading about each type of record.

9. If you enjoy in-person instruction then I would recommend an intermediate genealogy course at a genealogy institute. These courses generally cover all the records needed to conduct reasonably exhaustive research, and also include some sessions on methodology. Here are some options available in 2016:

•  Intermediate Genealogy and Historical Studies course at the Institute for Genealogy &  Historical Research (IGHR)  --  Angela Packer McGhie (coordinator)  http://samford.libguides.com/ighr-courses/ighr-cours

• Intermediate Genealogy course at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) 2016 -- Paula Stuart Warren, CG (coordinator)                                         http://www.gripitt.org/?page_id=1195

Comments:
Feel free to comment on other resources you have found helpful in studying the Genealogical Proof Standard.

Note:

These are just ideas for you to add to your individual education plan as you choose. They are NOT meant to be a checklist where you have to read/study/participate in every option. 

Links to other posts in this series:
Educational Preparation for BCG Certification  
Studying the Genealogical Proof Standard

Conducting Reasonably Exhaustive Research

Studying the Art of Citation

Studying Evidence Analysis, Part 1

Family History Library Sponsors Free Webinars on U.S. Research

The Family History Library is offering 15 free webinars as part of it's week-long seminar on U.S. research. The event will be held October 12 - 16, 2015. The classes at the Family History Library are full, but the webinars are free and open to the public. The focus of the sessions is on U.S. research including different types of records and various FamilySearch resources. For full details on the seminar you can download the brochure. There is no need to pre-register for the webinars, just use the links below to attend. 
(Photo credit: Claudia Heaston)

Webinar Schedule and Links

12 October, Monday: (Times listed are Mountain Time Zone)

• 1:30pm-2:30pm, Tips and Tricks for Using FamilySearch's Historical Records Collection
• 2:45pm-3:45pm, FamilySearch Research Wiki
• 4:00pm-5:00pm, Using the Family History Library Catalog

13 October, Tuesday:

• 8:30am-9:30am, United States Census
• 9:45am-10:45am, United States Census Techniques and Strategies for Finding Elusive Ancestors
• 11:00am-12 Noon,Finding Your Ancestors in Vital Records

14 October, Wednesday:

• 8:30am-9:30am,United States Court Records
• 9:45am-10:45am,Immigration Into the United States
• 11:00am-12 Noon, United States Naturalization

15 October, Thursday:

• 1:30pm-2:30pm, United States Newspaper Research: News You Can Use
• 2:45pm-3:45pm, Overview of American Indian Resesarch
• 4:00pm-5:00pm, Beginning African-American Research: Post 1865

16 October, Friday:

• 8:30am-9:30am, Descendancy Research
• 9:45am-10:45am, Solving Tough Research Problems
• 11:00am-12 Noon, Some People Really Need to Get a Clue! Document Analyzation and Evaluation

Instructors

Danielle L. Batson, AG, MLS spent 13 years working as a U.S. and Canada Reference Consultant at the Family History Library and her current assignment is working on content projects in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. Her research experience includes African-American research, the Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic States. She has also taught genealogy research classes at the Family History Library as well as various genealogical conferences including FGS in San Antonio and BYU’s Conference on Family History and Genealogy.

David Dilts, AG has been employed with the Family History Library since September 1975 first as a cataloger of German, Austrian, Swiss and Polish records then reference consultant. He earned his Master’s degree in Library Science from BYU and completed three years of doctoral work in history at the University of Utah. He is accredited in German and LDS research and has great experience in researching, writing and lecturing on genealogical topics.

Jason Harrison, CG is Supervisor of the Family History Library’s United States & Canada Research Specialists. He received his B.A. in Family History from Brigham Young University, is a Certified Genealogist, former New England Historic Genealogical Society intern, and National Genealogical Society conference lecturer. His research specialties include New England, Mountain states, and LDS research.

Joan Healey, AG is a native of Salt Lake City and earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah. Joan worked with the U.S./Canada/LDS Reference of the Family History Library since 1976, taking a short break to be the record attendant supervisor in British and European Reference She nurtures an interest in American Indian and African American research, and has contributed information to the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

Joni Kesler, BS, AG has been with the Family History Library for 30 years She has worked in the United States, British, Hosting and VIP units. Besides spending personal time on her own family history, Joni helps individuals in her ward to find ancestor’s names to take to the temple. She also enjoys spending time with her family of four daughters, four granddaughters, and one grandson. She loves reading and spending time with her family.

Nathan W. Murphy, MA, AG a United States and Canada Senior Research Consultant at the Family History Library, has been quoted by History Detectives, How the States Got Their Shapes and The Generations Project have sought his expertise for their TV shows. He has completed four years of Ph.D. studies in Colonial American and English history at Leicester and the University of Utah. Nathan is passionate about tracing immigrant origins and promoting DNA. He has published articles in scholarly genealogical journals in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Ken Nelson, AG is a collection manager for FamilySearch, and member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Society of Civil War Historians.

Tim Bingaman, AG has worked at the Family History Library since 1990 acquiring his AG in Mid-Atlantic States in 1991. A member of the Historical Society of Berks County, Pennsylvania and the Berks County Genealogical Society, Tim has made numerous trips to Pennsylvania where he spends a great deal of time visiting societies, courthouses, cemeteries and the neighborhoods where his ancestors lived.

Illinois State Genealogical Society Webinar Series

The Illinois State Genealogical Society is hosting a webinar series that is free to the public to join in the live presentations. The recorded presentations are available to ISGS members. They have a great lineup of speakers and topics for 2015. To register visit their webinar registration page.

April 2015
Using Evernote as Your Primary Tool for Capturing Notes and Ideas

• Presenter:  Drew Smith
• Date: April 14, 2015, 8:00 pm Central
• Description: Evernote is a free tool that runs on PCs, Macs, tables and smart phones and that can be used to capture, organize, preserver, and synchronize (across multiple devices) information of different formats and sizes, including ideas, notes (typed, handwritten, and audio), photos, online articles, web pages, and URLs. Learn how to set up an Evernote account; how to create and edit notes; how to tag notes so that they can be identified with particular surnames, locations, and document types, so that they can be easily found, later; how to get content into Evernote using e-mail; how to clip articles found online into Evernote; how to share Notebooks with others for research collaboration; and how to use Evernote to create research to-do lists.

May 2015
Need Direction? Try City Directories!

• Presenter:  Jean Wilcox Hibben
• Date: May 12, 2015, 8:00 pm Central
• Description: More accessible than ever, City Directories can fill in blanks between census years, opening new chapters in your family history research. Learn how to find, navigate, and cite this valuable record source.

June 2015
Understanding Our Families, Understanding Ourselves

• Presenter:  Ron Arons
• Date: June 9, 2015, 8:00 pm Central
• Description: Genealogy is more than just finding ancestors and other relatives to create a giant family tree. In this talk you will learn the basics of 'Family Systems Theory', the same technique used by psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and social workers to help their clients understand themselves better. By understanding our ancestors through 'Family Systems Theory', you'll be able to understand family dynamics through multiple generations and your relative's impact on the family 'system' and how the system affected you.

July 2015
Dissect Obituaries for New Clues

• Presenter:  George G. Morgan
• Date: July 14, 2015, 8:00 pm Central
• Description: Obituaries are miniature biographies for the deceased. The writers were compelled to compress as much information into a small amount of text. Your job is to carefully analyze the content of the death notice, obituary, and/or funeral notice and look for clues. This seminar presents a methodology for dissecting an obituary, determining what information is provided or inferred, identifying record types that may be available, where those records are located, and how to access them. A sample obituary is dissected and discussed.

August 2015
School Daze – Finding and Using School Records to Trace Our Ancestors

• Presenter:  Peggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG
• Date: August 11, 2015, 8:00 pm Central
• Description: We may even be somewhat astounded to learn that our ancestors even attended school. Locating school records can be an amazing way of putting our families into place, especially when there may be no vital records available in an area.

September 2015
Using Tax Records for Genealogical Problem Solving

• Presenter:  Michael Lacopo
• Date: September 8, 2015, 8:00 pm Central
• Description: Although most researchers are aware of tax records, they are seldom utilized and dismissed as boring and insignificant.  Tax records can solve MANY genealogical dilemmas and should be a primary records source to utilize, especially in states such as Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky, but nationwide.  This lecture will show you how they can help you!

October 2015
Polish Genealogy – Four Steps to successful research

• Presenter:  Steve Szabados
• Date: October 13, 2015, 8:00 pm Central
• Description: When did your Polish ancestors immigrate, from where did they leave, why did they leave, how did they get here? These are questions we all hope to find the answers. This presentation is designed to give the researcher the tools needed to research their Polish ancestors and find possible answers to the origins of your Polish heritage. The program outlines a simple process that will identify where your ancestors were born and where to find their Polish records. Steve uses his own genealogical research experience to outline a simple process that has been successful for the author.

November 2015
In-laws and Outlaws: The Bylaws of Talking About The Family Skeletons

• Presenter:  Janet Hovorka
• Date: November 10, 2015, 8:00 pm Central
• Description: Sharing your family history can be an important part of the health of your family relationships but every family has a few sticking points.  If you don't have some family skeletons, you just haven't done enough family history research yet.  Every family has heroes and scoundrels.  How do you pass down this information to the next generations in your family in a healthy, safe way that encourages strong connections to family and good coping skills?  Sometimes it is all in the way you frame it.  Here are some rules for making sure your family learns from the past and proceeds forward into the future in a healthy way.

December 2015
The US Federal Census: Good, Bad and Ugly for Genealogists

• Presenter:  Gary Smith
• Date: December 8, 2015, 8:00 pm Central
• Description: The US Federal Census has become a staple of genealogical research in the United States.  Using the census most effectively, however, requires understanding that there are good, bad, and truly ugly aspects of this record. Most are related to the type, quality or quantity of information recorded, but there are also some major pros and cons of the existence of the record.  Recognizing the possible pitfalls and highpoints will allow a researcher to use the record to best advantage.

Minnesota Genealogical Society Webinar Series

The Minnesota Genealogical Society has a great lineup of webinars for 2015! These are FREE and begin at 7:00pm on the dates listed below. For more information, or to register, visit the Minnesota Genealogical Society website at http://mngs.org/ . The press release below is shared courtesy of GeneaPress.

Minnesota Genealogical Society announces its 2015 Webinar Series:

• February 4th – Genealogy Do-Over™: A Year of Learning from Research Mistakes – Thomas MacEntee. It isn’t often that we get a “do-over” when it comes to stuff that matters in life. When you first got started researching your family history, did you do some things that now are just plain “embarrassing” such as name collecting, not citing sources and more? Well, now there’s hope since genealogists from beginner to advanced are employing new research methodologies and documentation practices. Follow genealogist Thomas MacEntee as he basically starts his genealogy research from scratch but includes sound research practices and methodologies as well as new templates, tools and the latest technology to create a better body of family history research.

• March 4th – Midwestern & Plains State Level Census Records – Paula Stuart-Warren. Many Midwestern and Plains states have superb state census records. Learn about the indexes, the many personal details these censuses include, locating the censuses, and alternate sources. The lecture includes many specific examples from these enumerations, provides an overview of state censuses for Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and indicates where they may be found. The personal details vary but may include names of children, maiden names, military service, religious denomination, mother of how many children, occupation, value of real estate, and other helpful details.

• April 1st – Find Your American Ancestor Using Canadian Records – Kathryn Lake Hogan. When you can't find your ancestor's birth, marriage or death registration, or their name on a ship list or immigration record at Ellis Island, then it's time to consider your ancestor may have been in Canada. Whether your ancestor was here for a day or for many years, he/she left behind records. When you hit a brick wall in your research, it's time to consider Canada. Even if you think your American or immigrant ancestors were never in Canada, discover eight reasons why they actually may have been there. Learn how and where to find the Canadian or provincial records that will help you fill in the missing pieces of your ancestors' lives.

• May 6th – Researching Your Swedish Ancestry in the 21st Century – Ginny Sharp Sommarstrom. Researching your Swedish-American ancestors has become much easier in the last ten years, thanks to the availability of numerous Swedish and American resources in digital format, all accessible from the comforts of your home. This presentation will provide a framework for tracing Swedish- American ancestry that is based on four essential questions that must be answered. Resources for answering those questions are illustrated and discussed. With answers to those four questions in hand, we will delve into U.S. immigration, Swedish emigration, and Swedish church records. Clear step-by-step examples will help the listener find their own ancestors in these records.

• June 3rd – Genealogy and GIS: A Beginner’s How-To – Jennifer Alford. When you dig into genealogy, a repeated lesson is to know your location. We’ll uncover how using GIS can connect geospatial history with your family history research. In this session, we’ll cover the exciting historical geospatial information that is now available for use in Google Earth and the many other tools available online. I’ll present the many options and databases that could be an invaluable tool in your research. We’ll discuss the importance of historical context and the kinds of data that can be used to further your genealogical research.

• August 5th – A Guided Tour to Cyndi’s List 2.0 – Cyndi Ingle. This begins with a brief history of Cyndi's List, followed by an overview of how to navigate the site and how to tell when the site is updated. Learn how to effectively use this valuable resource tool as your jumping-off point onto the Internet.

• September 2nd – Genealogical Research Using Facebook’s 4,000+ Genealogical Pages & Groups – Katherine R. Willson. Facebook is quickly becoming a favorite resource among genealogical researchers for its vast networking capabilities. With many thousands of regional and surname-specific genealogy groups, researchers are discovering relatives, sharing photos, finding obituaries and breaking down brick walls that have blocked them for years - often within 24 hours of posting a query! This presentation introduces members to Facebook as a genealogical research tool and guides them through the process of efficiently utilizing Facebook for specific genealogical needs. Participants are also given the link to the 120-page PDF file listing 4,000+ genealogical pages & groups on Facebook.

• October 7th – Engaging the Next Generation – Shannon Combs-Bennett. The youth are our future is stated many times through different organizations. Genealogy is no different. Today there are children and young adults you know who want to learn more. Most people, however, do not know how to do it. In this presentation, I will go through ways to engage, interact, and teach the youth in your life about family history. Not all of them may grow up to be professionals but through education they will develop an appreciation for what their ancestors did and where research can take them.

• November 4th – Research Logs and Plans for Every Genealogist – Lisa Alzo. Whether you’re a beginner, or an experienced genealogist, learn how create and maintain research plans and logs to maximize your research time and increase success. Through examples, you will discover how simple it is to develop easy-to-use research plans and logs you can access no matter where you are. Session will demonstrate key steps such as deciding on a format (Excel spreadsheet, Google Drive, or Evernote), creating the columns you'll need, designing the document, entering information, and using and maintaining the database.

• December 2nd – Passenger Lists: A Boat-Load of Records, 1565–1954 – Valerie Eichler Lair. There truly is a “boat-load” of records on passenger lists! Learn what you need to know before searching, how to find these valuable records and available resources, and really cool information you’ll get about the ancestors who took the journey across the “Big Pond.” In addition to researching for passenger lists, we’ll cover a bit about immigration records.

All webinars are held at 7:00 pm Central. Visit the Minnesota Genealogical Society website at http://mngs.org/ for more information.

2015 SCGS Webinar Schedule Announced

I was excited to get the press releases from the Southern California Genealogical Society regarding their 2015 webinar schedule. I have enjoyed their webinars in the past and appreciate that they are free to the public. There are some great speakers and topics in this lineup.
 

The Southern California Genealogical Society proudly announces plans for the 2015 Jamboree Extension Webinar Series. Since 2011, SCGS has offered twice-monthly webinars for genealogists and family historians around the globe.

The goal of the Webinar Series is to fulfill an important element of the Society’s Mission Statement: The Southern California Genealogical Society exists to foster interest in family history and genealogy, preserve genealogical materials, and provide instruction in accepted and effective research techniques.

What does it cost?
The live webcasts are open to the public free of charge. Please tell your cousins, fellow genealogical society members and others about our program. We'd love to have them join us.

When are they held?
SCGS webinars are held the first Saturday and third Wednesday of each month. They are held at hours that most people are not working: Saturday 10am Pacific time and Wednesday 6pm Pacific time.

I’m sold. How do I sign up?
It’s really easy. Go to the SCGS website page with the Extension Series information. http://tinyurl.com/2015-SCGS-Webinars

You’ll see a list with all of the upcoming webinars and links to register. Click on the links to register for the live webcasts you want to attend. Fill out the registration information and you’re all set. You’ll get a confirmation email and will also get reminders before the webinar, as well as a link to a handout for every presentation.

On the day of the program, click the link that you received in those emails and you’ll be taken to GoToWebinar for your session. You can watch the webinars on your laptop or desktop, on your tablet or even your smartphone. If you don't have an internet connection, you can even dial in by phone and listen to the presentation.

What if I can’t watch the live webcast?
As a benefit of membership, SCGS members may view any of the 125 or so archived sessions any time, day or night, on the SCGS website. Webinars are posted online about two weeks after the webcast. A list of the archived sessions can be found on the SCGS website. To learn more about the valuable membership benefits available for SCGS members, visit our membership webpage.

Download the 2015 Webinar flyer and post it on your office's bulletin board.

Join us for the first session on Saturday, January 3!

Free Webniars hosted by APG

There are some excellent webinars offered by the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) this month, and in 2015. The live webinars are FREE and open to the public. You may want to register soon to reserve your spot.

Building Your Author Blueprint: Writing Opportunities for the Genealogy Professional Presented by Lisa A. Alzo, M.F.A.
Wednesday, 3 December 2014 9:00 PM Eastern

Do you enjoy writing about genealogy? There are plenty of writing opportunities available for genealogy professionals. This webinar will teach you how to find work with magazines, educational venues, blogs, websites, private clients, and genealogy vendors. Learn tips and tricks for generating ideas, working with individuals and editors, meeting deadlines, getting repeat assignments, and ways to create your own platform. Discover tools and resources to help boost your productivity and increase your income stream.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/152401632

So You Want a Website? Essential Steps to Creating Your Online Presence
Presented by Carla Cegielski
Monday, 8 December 2014 9:00 PM Eastern

If you do not currently have a website for your business, this webinar is for you. APG webmaster Carla Cegielski will walk you step by step through the process of creating an effective business website. Topics covered include content, domain registration, choosing a platform and web host,
user experience, and evaluating your web presence.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/426952152

MORE UPCOMING WEBINARS

Careers in Genealogy: Personal Historian
Presented by Linda Coffin, president of the Association of Personal Historians
29 January 2015 at 9:00 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/552011353

The Ins and Outs of Speaker Proposals
Presented by Julie Miller, CG
19 February 2015 at 8:00 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/769109865

Are You Ready to be a Professional Genealogist?
Presented by Paula Stuart-Warren, CG
17 March 2015 at 9:00 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/477982617

Working with Genealogists: Tips for Librarians, Volunteers, and Other Research Staff Presented by Amber Case, MLIS
29 April 2015 at 8:30 PM Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/945933873

Using Technology to Manage Multiple Genealogy Projects
Presented by Melanie D. Holtz, CG
30 May 2015 at 12:00 noon Eastern
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/784556809

APG webinars are free for both APG members and non-members to attend live, and we ask that you please share the information with your friends, colleagues, mailing lists, etc.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

I had a great time visiting the Carroll County Genealogical Society this last Monday and giving a presentation on "Becoming a Census Detective." I was asked there about my upcoming speaking engagements, and when I was featured on the "Forget Me Not Hour" with Jane Wilcox at Blog Talk Radio today I was asked the same question, so I will post my speaking schedule here.

Saturday, September 27, 2014 -- Fairfax Genealogical Society
"Studying Genealogy: A Personalized Approach"
To “study” genealogy one must go beyond casually attending presentations and work to learn about specific topics. Each genealogist has a unique background and experience and thus has differing educational needs. This presentation will focus on strategies for learning about sources and methods and will show you how to locate resources to study the topics you need to enhance your research.

 

Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 1:45pm-- Baltimore Family History Workshop in Essex, Maryland

Free conference, registration required 

"Advanced Census Research"

Census records are an essential resource for genealogists. This session will focus on going beyond basic use of the census and assist participants in understanding the pre-1850 census records; discovering how the non-population schedules can enhance research; locating and using state census records; and evaluating information from every census column to maximize the information gleaned from the record.

Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 11:15am-- Baltimore Family History Workshop in Essex, Maryland 

Free conference, registration required

"Genealogy Techniques Toolbox"

How full is your toolbox? Does it include creating spreadsheets, charts and timelines to compare and evaluate research findings? Would you like to add skills such as separating individuals of the same name, researching extended family and associates of an individual, and using identity characteristics to locate or identify a person? The session will highlight these techniques and conclude with a case study that employs many of the methods to demonstrate their use in a real genealogical problem. 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at 2:00pm -- Friends of the National Archives-Southeast Region

"Mining for Family History in Federal Land Records"

Webinar online

Did your ancestor have a homestead or buy land on the frontier? Come learn about the federal land entry papers at the National Archives and the genealogical information they provide.

Friday, January 9, 2015 at 1:15pm -- APG Professional Management Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah

Time Management: Successfully Balancing the Demands of Our Many "Clients"

As professional genealogists we strive to work efficiently and manage our time effectively. We balance a variety of demands such as client research, writing projects, volunteer positions, lecture opportunities, continuing education, and administrative tasks. This session will address ideas for managing your workload, scheduling projects, prioritizing tasks, tracking your time, and staying focused. 

January 11- 16, 2015 -- Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy in Salt Lake City, Utah

Advanced Evidence Analysis Pracitum -- course coordinator

This hands-on course is an opportunity for advanced genealogists to put their research skills into practice. Participants will work on five complex genealogical research problems—a new one each day. The objective is to give each student experience in conducting research on complex problems, analyzing and correlating evidence, and reaching conclusions. The research problems will be varied, offering students the challenge of stretching their mind and skills in directions that their research may not normally take them. If you can't resist a genealogical challenge and love hands-on learning, then this is the course for you!

I will post additional speaking engagements for 2015 at the beginning of the year, but I am looking forward to speaking in Maryland, Virginia, Utah and Washington!