James C. Ward’s Eldorado: A Coast to Coast Identity Case
One James C. Ward was born in the 1820s and his life is documented in Massachusetts and New York. One James C. Ward served in the Mexican War and left sketches and a diary detailing his adventures in California in the 1840s. Could they be the same man? A case of identity solved through correlation.
One James C. Ward was born in the 1820s and his life is documented in Massachusetts and New York. One James C. Ward served in the Mexican War and left sketches and a diary detailing his adventures in California in the 1840s. Could they be the same man? A case of identity solved through correlation.
In 1906, Nellie Langevin married Frank Henry Hill in Penacook, New Hampshire. Frank vanished three years later, leaving Nellie to fend for herself. Despite her efforts to divorce him, Nellie died in 1914, still officially married. Who was Nellie’s elusive husband and what happened to him? This case study resolves conflicting direct, indirect, and negative evidence to uncover Frank’s identity and highlights the importance of including the FAN Club in reasonably exhaustive research.
In 1906, Nellie Langevin married Frank Henry Hill in Penacook, New Hampshire. Frank vanished three years later, leaving Nellie to fend for herself. Despite her efforts to divorce him, Nellie died in 1914, still officially married. Who was Nellie’s elusive husband and what happened to him? This case study resolves conflicting direct, indirect, and negative evidence to uncover Frank’s identity and highlights the importance of including the FAN Club in reasonably exhaustive research.
From Statutes to Stories: Finding the Law for Family History
The laws our ancestors lived by can tell us much about life in earlier times. Finding those laws, and the stories they tell, can be a daunting task, but—from colonial statutes to today, from the halls of Congress to the statehouses of 50 states—the choices legislators made about what laws were needed give a rich and deep context to family history.
The laws our ancestors lived by can tell us much about life in earlier times. Finding those laws, and the stories they tell, can be a daunting task, but—from colonial statutes to today, from the halls of Congress to the statehouses of 50 states—the choices legislators made about what laws were needed give a rich and deep context to family history.
Applying for BCG Certification: A Step-by-Step Review of the 2025 Application Guide
Thinking about becoming a Certified Genealogist? This presentation walks through the 2025 BCG Application Guide, focusing on the required portfolio elements, the rubrics used for evaluation, and common questions from applicants. Attendees will gain a realistic understanding of the process, timeline, and expectations involved in submitting an initial portfolio for BCG certification.
Thinking about becoming a Certified Genealogist? This presentation walks through the 2025 BCG Application Guide, focusing on the required portfolio elements, the rubrics used for evaluation, and common questions from applicants. Attendees will gain a realistic understanding of the process, timeline, and expectations involved in submitting an initial portfolio for BCG certification.
Civil War Records: What is a Reasonably Exhaustive Search?
To correlate evidence, you must have evidence to correlate. Typical researchers stop too soon in their evidence collection, believing they have found all there is to find about a soldier. There is more to military research than the compiled military service record or the pension application file. A reasonably exhaustive search is not limited to the two or three typical record sources.
To correlate evidence, you must have evidence to correlate. Typical researchers stop too soon in their evidence collection, believing they have found all there is to find about a soldier. There is more to military research than the compiled military service record or the pension application file. A reasonably exhaustive search is not limited to the two or three typical record sources.
A one place study explores an ancestral place in depth by studying the history, the environment, and the people of a place over time. Learn practical strategies for conducting your own OPS and how it helps you meet the Genealogy Standards. See how the assembled information can add rich context to your ancestors’ lives, fill gaps where records are lacking, and uncover forgotten connections within a community.
A one place study explores an ancestral place in depth by studying the history, the environment, and the people of a place over time. Learn practical strategies for conducting your own OPS and how it helps you meet the Genealogy Standards. See how the assembled information can add rich context to your ancestors’ lives, fill gaps where records are lacking, and uncover forgotten connections within a community.
From Despair to Cargoes of Hope: WWII’s Displaced Persons
Many immigrants entered the US under the Displaced Persons Act. Based on specific criteria, eligible displaced persons (DPs) could be admitted to the US if they would not become a public charge and have safe and sanitary housing and employment without displacing some other person. The displaced person or refugee was the concern of the International Refugee Organization. The US created the Displaced Persons Commission to oversee the act’s enactment. Is your ancestor named in the record sets created? The presentation will discuss the History of the Act and the records created as a result of the Act.
Many immigrants entered the US under the Displaced Persons Act. Based on specific criteria, eligible displaced persons (DPs) could be admitted to the US if they would not become a public charge and have safe and sanitary housing and employment without displacing some other person. The displaced person or refugee was the concern of the International Refugee Organization. The US created the Displaced Persons Commission to oversee the act’s enactment. Is your ancestor named in the record sets created? The presentation will discuss the History of the Act and the records created as a result of the Act.
“A Matrimonial Advertiser:” Tracing the Treacherous Trail of an Early 20th-Century Romance Scammer
Research on a man’s mysterious second marriage identified his wife as a romance scammer who preyed on Civil War veterans. This case study shows how evidence correlation and reasonably exhaustive research cut through the lies and misdirection in a woman’s records to establish her identity and reveal her sometimes deadly deception.
Research on a man’s mysterious second marriage identified his wife as a romance scammer who preyed on Civil War veterans. This case study shows how evidence correlation and reasonably exhaustive research cut through the lies and misdirection in a woman’s records to establish her identity and reveal her sometimes deadly deception.
From the beginning of European settlement in North America, free and inexpensive land has been a tool for enticing settlers to migrate to new areas. The English and Spanish granted large tracts to individuals in return for bringing new people into areas with sparse European populations. Bounty land was granted to soldiers in America’s early wars. The end of the American Revolution led to a number of Federal plans to sell or grant vast acreages of public domain land. Homesteading opportunities attracted Americans and immigrants to the west after the Civil War. The availability of affordable land was a catalyst for the migration of many of our ancestors.
From the beginning of European settlement in North America, free and inexpensive land has been a tool for enticing settlers to migrate to new areas. The English and Spanish granted large tracts to individuals in return for bringing new people into areas with sparse European populations. Bounty land was granted to soldiers in America’s early wars. The end of the American Revolution led to a number of Federal plans to sell or grant vast acreages of public domain land. Homesteading opportunities attracted Americans and immigrants to the west after the Civil War. The availability of affordable land was a catalyst for the migration of many of our ancestors.
After years of using census records, genealogists may take for granted that they’re using them fully and correctly. But as they learn about genealogy standards and best practices, do they go back and re-think their census practices? What does it even mean to evaluate a census record? Let’s learn a bit more about the U.S. census and the specific ways that standards can help us to maximize its usefulness.
After years of using census records, genealogists may take for granted that they’re using them fully and correctly. But as they learn about genealogy standards and best practices, do they go back and re-think their census practices? What does it even mean to evaluate a census record? Let’s learn a bit more about the U.S. census and the specific ways that standards can help us to maximize its usefulness.
The Everleigh Sisters: A Case Study in Conflict Resolution
Minna and Ada Everleigh, Chicago’s most famous pair of sisters, fabricated many details of their lives in order to run their shady business. Learn to sort fact from fiction.
Minna and Ada Everleigh, Chicago’s most famous pair of sisters, fabricated many details of their lives in order to run their shady business. Learn to sort fact from fiction.
Lost and Found: Locating Ancestral Origins with FAN Club and DNA
It’s hard to do genealogy well without studying your ancestors’ Friends & Family, Associates, and Neighbors – their FAN club. If your ancestors are Irish, you might have no luck at all without those FAN principles. But if you combine FAN club research with DNA, you might have just the winning ticket to get you back to your Irish ancestor’s origins. In this case study presentation, learn how focused research pointed the way from Ohio to townlands in County Mayo for an 1850s-era Irish immigrant.
It’s hard to do genealogy well without studying your ancestors’ Friends & Family, Associates, and Neighbors – their FAN club. If your ancestors are Irish, you might have no luck at all without those FAN principles. But if you combine FAN club research with DNA, you might have just the winning ticket to get you back to your Irish ancestor’s origins. In this case study presentation, learn how focused research pointed the way from Ohio to townlands in County Mayo for an 1850s-era Irish immigrant.
Situated on the east coast of England, Norfolk is its fifth largest county and contains over 700 ancient parishes. Historically, it was a largely agricultural region, with some manufacturing in the county town of Norwich and significant seaports at King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth. The resources available for tracing ancestors who lived in Norfolk are vast and varied. While many of the most useful records (such as parish registers) are available online, there remains a wealth of material that can only be accessed at the archives in Norwich and King’s Lynn. In this webinar, the lives of Norfolk ancestors will be placed in context and the sources of use to genealogists will be explained. The session will cover probate records, borough records, quarter sessions records, estate papers, maritime records, newspapers and other relevant resources. Some difficulties that can be encountered when investigating Norfolk ancestors will also be discussed, as well as methods of overcoming such challenges. Additionally, the printed and online publications of relevance to Norfolk research will be considered in detail.
Situated on the east coast of England, Norfolk is its fifth largest county and contains over 700 ancient parishes. Historically, it was a largely agricultural region, with some manufacturing in the county town of Norwich and significant seaports at King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth. The resources available for tracing ancestors who lived in Norfolk are vast and varied. While many of the most useful records (such as parish registers) are available online, there remains a wealth of material that can only be accessed at the archives in Norwich and King’s Lynn. In this webinar, the lives of Norfolk ancestors will be placed in context and the sources of use to genealogists will be explained. The session will cover probate records, borough records, quarter sessions records, estate papers, maritime records, newspapers and other relevant resources. Some difficulties that can be encountered when investigating Norfolk ancestors will also be discussed, as well as methods of overcoming such challenges. Additionally, the printed and online publications of relevance to Norfolk research will be considered in detail.
La généalogie au bout des doigts : explorez l’application mobile MyHeritage
Tue, November 18 2025: 12:00 UTC
L’application mobile MyHeritage vous permet d’emporter votre arbre généalogique partout avec vous et de l’enrichir en toute simplicité. Explorez vos correspondances, profitez d’outils photo puissants, et effectuez des recherches dans la vaste base de données internationale de collections d’archives — partout, à tout moment. Dans ce webinaire, découvrez toutes les fonctionnalités de l’application et apprenez à l’utiliser pour explorer, préserver et partager votre histoire familiale, où que vous soyez
L’application mobile MyHeritage vous permet d’emporter votre arbre généalogique partout avec vous et de l’enrichir en toute simplicité. Explorez vos correspondances, profitez d’outils photo puissants, et effectuez des recherches dans la vaste base de données internationale de collections d’archives — partout, à tout moment. Dans ce webinaire, découvrez toutes les fonctionnalités de l’application et apprenez à l’utiliser pour explorer, préserver et partager votre histoire familiale, où que vous soyez
Using Homestead Records to Tell Your Ancestor’s Story
Wed, November 19 2025: 1:00 UTC
Imagine uncovering the stories hidden in your ancestors’ land entry papers from the Homestead Act of 1862 and later homestead laws. The material in these files will add richness to your family history. Join us as we discover potential homesteading ancestors, explore the journey of making a claim, understand the different homestead laws, and learn to access these records. Each document holds clues waiting to unfold the story of your family’s past.
Imagine uncovering the stories hidden in your ancestors’ land entry papers from the Homestead Act of 1862 and later homestead laws. The material in these files will add richness to your family history. Join us as we discover potential homesteading ancestors, explore the journey of making a claim, understand the different homestead laws, and learn to access these records. Each document holds clues waiting to unfold the story of your family’s past.
Spirit of St. Louis: Military & Civilian Records at the National Personnel Records Center
Wed, November 19 2025: 19:00 UTC
The National Records Personnel Center in St. Louis has many records pertinent to your soldier’s service. OMPFs, Official Military Personnel Files, monthly regimental rolls, hospital records, military court-martials and graves registration service files all offer clues into your veteran’s military experience. NPRC also houses civilian and government employment files as well. Was your grandfather in the Civilian Conservation Corps? Was your mother Postmaster? These records are available as well! Tina will describe the types of information to be found in these records and how you can access them in person.
The National Records Personnel Center in St. Louis has many records pertinent to your soldier’s service. OMPFs, Official Military Personnel Files, monthly regimental rolls, hospital records, military court-martials and graves registration service files all offer clues into your veteran’s military experience. NPRC also houses civilian and government employment files as well. Was your grandfather in the Civilian Conservation Corps? Was your mother Postmaster? These records are available as well! Tina will describe the types of information to be found in these records and how you can access them in person.
University Archives in México: Manuscripts, Photos, and Theses, Oh my!
Fri, November 21 2025: 19:00 UTC
With original records and bibliographic resources, university archives are genealogical treasures. This presentation will include an introduction to common resources available at universities in Mexico, including original manuscripts, newspapers, historic photos, dissertations, etc., with examples from Universidad Autónoma de México, Colegio de Sonora, Universidad de Guadalajara, and many more.
With original records and bibliographic resources, university archives are genealogical treasures. This presentation will include an introduction to common resources available at universities in Mexico, including original manuscripts, newspapers, historic photos, dissertations, etc., with examples from Universidad Autónoma de México, Colegio de Sonora, Universidad de Guadalajara, and many more.
En esta clase presentaremos diferentes maneras de buscar eficazmente para poder encontrar a nuestros antepasados escondidos en los registros históricos de FamilySearch.
En esta clase presentaremos diferentes maneras de buscar eficazmente para poder encontrar a nuestros antepasados escondidos en los registros históricos de FamilySearch.
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