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.
Laws of the Indies: Spanish Colonial laws and the records they produced
From town planning to native relations, “Las Leyes de Las Indias” (Laws of the Indies) governed Spanish colonies of North America and beyond, and created unique records for research for anyone with ancestral ties to Spanish America.
From town planning to native relations, “Las Leyes de Las Indias” (Laws of the Indies) governed Spanish colonies of North America and beyond, and created unique records for research for anyone with ancestral ties to Spanish America.
Landowners but legal laymen, America’s early justices of the peace served up ground-level justice and local governance, creating records unparalleled for genealogists.
Landowners but legal laymen, America’s early justices of the peace served up ground-level justice and local governance, creating records unparalleled for genealogists.
When it comes to finding the law… cheat. (Using resources like Cyndi’s List!)
This was part of the webinar, Celebrating 2,000 webinars! Plus 10 tips you can use today.
When it comes to finding the law… cheat. (Using resources like Cyndi’s List!)
This was part of the webinar, Celebrating 2,000 webinars! Plus 10 tips you can use today.
Names weren’t changed at Ellis Island, but in courts, legislatures and elsewhere both formally and officially — and on the fly. As genealogists, we need to know why names were changed, and how those changes might be recorded, if we want to have a chance at finding out what’s in a name.
Names weren’t changed at Ellis Island, but in courts, legislatures and elsewhere both formally and officially — and on the fly. As genealogists, we need to know why names were changed, and how those changes might be recorded, if we want to have a chance at finding out what’s in a name.
Time and time again, we’re told to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Easier said than done! With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how do we find the laws we need? One answer is Google Books—if we use it to full advantage.
Time and time again, we’re told to look at records in the context of the law at the time and in the place where the records were created. Easier said than done! With 50 states and the federal government all passing laws, how do we find the laws we need? One answer is Google Books—if we use it to full advantage.
Is this man John the father or John the son? Could that man be my ancestor who married in 1802? Knowing a person’s age is often the key to distinguishing between two people of the same name. But if no record gives a birthdate, how do you know how old…
Is this man John the father or John the son? Could that man be my ancestor who married in 1802? Knowing a person’s age is often the key to distinguishing between two people of the same name. But if no record gives a birthdate, how do you know how old…
No matter what time period your ancestors lived in, they surely had a few secrets. Explore various court records that reveal family relationships and issues. Find answers to long-standing family mysteries!
No matter what time period your ancestors lived in, they surely had a few secrets. Explore various court records that reveal family relationships and issues. Find answers to long-standing family mysteries!
Inventing America – Records of the U.S. Patent Office
Americans have always been tinkerers and inventors. Records of the U.S. Patent Office can enrich any family's history. Where are they and what can they tell us?
Americans have always been tinkerers and inventors. Records of the U.S. Patent Office can enrich any family's history. Where are they and what can they tell us?
There's a difference between searching and researching, and understanding how the law impacts records and research is critical to the reasonably exhaustive research needed to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard. Learn how the law impacts records — and how finding the right law for the right place and time is…
There's a difference between searching and researching, and understanding how the law impacts records and research is critical to the reasonably exhaustive research needed to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard. Learn how the law impacts records — and how finding the right law for the right place and time is…
As colonists and as citizens of the new United States, Americans were fiercely protective of their right to petition their government. Whether the issue was forming new counties, building bridges and highways, or some matter of public concern, our ancestors made their voices heard in legislative petitions that are a…
As colonists and as citizens of the new United States, Americans were fiercely protective of their right to petition their government. Whether the issue was forming new counties, building bridges and highways, or some matter of public concern, our ancestors made their voices heard in legislative petitions that are a…
The Private Laws of the Federal and State Governments
Few researchers realize that many early federal and state laws were private laws -specifically for the benefit of individuals or families. The records can be fabulous for genealogists. Learn how to find these genealogical gems in federal and state collections.
Few researchers realize that many early federal and state laws were private laws -specifically for the benefit of individuals or families. The records can be fabulous for genealogists. Learn how to find these genealogical gems in federal and state collections.
Genealogy Meets the Internet Archive and AI: A Comprehensive Review
Wed, January 7 2026: 16:30 UTC
Learn to harness the Internet Archive’s free digital library—a treasure trove of digitized family histories, city directories, census and church records—to enrich your genealogy research. Learn how to build complex prompts to build an index of surnames on a 400 page genealogy book from 1898. Learn how to extract a list of migration routes from the same book, organized by surname, then in generation order, and placed in an Excel file. With the help of AI, you can get the most out of Internet Archive.
Learn to harness the Internet Archive’s free digital library—a treasure trove of digitized family histories, city directories, census and church records—to enrich your genealogy research. Learn how to build complex prompts to build an index of surnames on a 400 page genealogy book from 1898. Learn how to extract a list of migration routes from the same book, organized by surname, then in generation order, and placed in an Excel file. With the help of AI, you can get the most out of Internet Archive.
AI as Partner, Not Replacement: Human-Led Research Planning in the Sally Keaton Case
Wed, January 7 2026: 17:45 UTC
This lecture explores how modern AI tools can assist genealogical research planning through the case of Sally Keaton, where the objective was to identify her children using limited historical records and DNA evidence. The presentation demonstrates how to structure effective research plans with AI assistance, covering essential elements including clear objectives, summaries of known facts, working hypotheses, identified sources, and prioritized strategies. Using Sally Keaton’s case as the central example, the lecture showcases practical AI tools, such as side-by-side editors: Canvas (ChatGPT and Gemini) and Artifacts (Claude); also advanced capabilities including reasoning models and organizational tools like ChatGPT’s Projects, Claude’s Projects, Perplexity’s Spaces, and Gemini Gems. While AI can create research plans on its own, human-AI collaboration produces better results. When researchers guide and refine AI-generated strategies instead of using fully automated planning, they achieve more accurate results.
This lecture explores how modern AI tools can assist genealogical research planning through the case of Sally Keaton, where the objective was to identify her children using limited historical records and DNA evidence. The presentation demonstrates how to structure effective research plans with AI assistance, covering essential elements including clear objectives, summaries of known facts, working hypotheses, identified sources, and prioritized strategies. Using Sally Keaton’s case as the central example, the lecture showcases practical AI tools, such as side-by-side editors: Canvas (ChatGPT and Gemini) and Artifacts (Claude); also advanced capabilities including reasoning models and organizational tools like ChatGPT’s Projects, Claude’s Projects, Perplexity’s Spaces, and Gemini Gems. While AI can create research plans on its own, human-AI collaboration produces better results. When researchers guide and refine AI-generated strategies instead of using fully automated planning, they achieve more accurate results.
From Problem to Solution: A Case Study Approach to Using AI in Genealogy
Wed, January 7 2026: 20:30 UTC
Artificial intelligence is changing the way genealogists work—but how do you move beyond tips and tricks to apply AI in a sound, methodical way? In this session, Andrew Redfern demonstrates how a case study approach provides the answer. Using real examples, he walks through the stages of tackling a genealogical problem with AI, showing how tools can assist with transcription, analysis, correlation of evidence, and presentation of findings. Rather than treating AI as a shortcut, Andrew highlights how to integrate it into the established genealogical research cycle—problem definition, source gathering, analysis, and conclusion. Attendees will see how AI can clarify complex evidence, save time on repetitive tasks, and support storytelling, while still requiring human expertise and critical thinking. By the end of the session, participants will have a practical framework they can adapt to their own research problems, ensuring that AI becomes a trusted partner in genealogical methodology.
Artificial intelligence is changing the way genealogists work—but how do you move beyond tips and tricks to apply AI in a sound, methodical way? In this session, Andrew Redfern demonstrates how a case study approach provides the answer. Using real examples, he walks through the stages of tackling a genealogical problem with AI, showing how tools can assist with transcription, analysis, correlation of evidence, and presentation of findings. Rather than treating AI as a shortcut, Andrew highlights how to integrate it into the established genealogical research cycle—problem definition, source gathering, analysis, and conclusion. Attendees will see how AI can clarify complex evidence, save time on repetitive tasks, and support storytelling, while still requiring human expertise and critical thinking. By the end of the session, participants will have a practical framework they can adapt to their own research problems, ensuring that AI becomes a trusted partner in genealogical methodology.
La fotografía de un desconocido: ¿punto de partida para una genealogía?
Tue, January 13 2026: 14:00 UTC
En la actualidad, cuando casi cualquier cosa pasa por la IA, el descubrimiento de una fotografía hecha a finales del siglo XIX o principios del siglo XX, no solo nos traslada a otro momento de la historia en el que el contexto era totalmente diferente, sino que nos abre las posibilidades de estudio de una persona y de una familia. Pero, además, ¿qué nos aporta una fotografía de un desconocido? ¿cuánto podemos averiguar de él y de su entorno? Una fotografía es un documento de memoria colectiva y, como tal, aporta una fuente de información sobre estructura familiar, estilo de vida y valores sociales de la época.
En la actualidad, cuando casi cualquier cosa pasa por la IA, el descubrimiento de una fotografía hecha a finales del siglo XIX o principios del siglo XX, no solo nos traslada a otro momento de la historia en el que el contexto era totalmente diferente, sino que nos abre las posibilidades de estudio de una persona y de una familia. Pero, además, ¿qué nos aporta una fotografía de un desconocido? ¿cuánto podemos averiguar de él y de su entorno? Una fotografía es un documento de memoria colectiva y, como tal, aporta una fuente de información sobre estructura familiar, estilo de vida y valores sociales de la época.
Using MyHeritage in Your Genealogical DNA Testing Plan
Tue, January 13 2026: 19:00 UTC
We often need other family members to take a DNA test for us to help us solve our genealogical problems. We’ll discuss ways MyHeritage can help us find, test, and collaborate with our DNA cousins.
We often need other family members to take a DNA test for us to help us solve our genealogical problems. We’ll discuss ways MyHeritage can help us find, test, and collaborate with our DNA cousins.
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