Historical Records

Learn how to use the free Google Earth Web platform to create and share engaging, interactive, multimedia stories that follow the footsteps of your ancestors. Although both the web and desktop versions have Google Earth in their name, they are very different. Learn how to navigate the platform interface, add multimedia content to your digital story, share your digital family history story, and preserve it. We will also discuss best practices for planning your Google Earth Web story. No coding skills needed!

¿Qué buscamos las personas adoptadas cuando iniciamos una búsqueda de familia biológica? Las personas adoptadas cuando iniciamos la búsqueda de familiares biológicos buscamos más que personas, en realidad buscamos recuperar nuestra identidad. Buscamos conectar de nuevo con la lengua de nuestros ancestros, aprender de la cultura que quedó en otros países, recuperar viejas tradiciones. Todo este viaje se puede realizar investigando registros históricos y aprendiendo de genealogistas

Naturalization records can contain a wealth of information about an immigrant, his origin, and much more. U.S. Naturalization – 1790-1954 discusses the naturalization process, the documents, and changes in naturalization laws over time. It encourages the use of census records, ships’ passenger lists, and other documents in tandem with naturalization documents to expand your knowledge of your immigrant ancestor – and possibly also of the family. This webinar was first released 5 May 2020 on the Genealogy Guys Learn website.

Many challenging research problems involve understanding where our ancestors lived, their land, neighbors, jurisdictions, and landmarks. While historical maps can sometimes be found for the geography of our research problem, they often don’t cover the timeframe or include specific data that our research has uncovered. Genealogists frequently need to edit or create maps to communicate their findings and conclusions. This presentation will focus on leveraging existing maps, using online tools to annotate and edit, and/or create new maps that can be utilized for individual analysis, as well as in research reports and articles. With over 40 years of experience as a professional graphic designer, the lecturer will illustrate techniques using free and paid tools that can be used to produce effective maps.

The more research you do, the more unusual records you find, and the more you learn about possibilities for solving seemingly difficult genealogical problems. Enjoy ten favorite sources and learn how they helped solve mysteries. After this webinar, you will be primed to get beyond censuses, vital records, and passenger manifests!

Using gravestone clues to grow your family tree may be one of genealogy’s best-kept secrets! Gravestones function as a journal of sorts – one written in stone. Do you have some brick walls in your family tree? A trip to the cemetery may be just the thing to help you break through! In this webinar, you will learn 12 ways to use gravestone clues to grow your family tree.

Early surveys can often resolve issues of burned or unindexed records. Learn how to follow a specific property and the individuals involved, while building a more complete story of that land.

Whether researching a Depression-era ancestor or looking for historical context, there’s likely to be something of interest to you in the records of the Works Progress Administration. This lecture explores a wide range of WPA projects that have special interest to genealogists and researchers including historical records surveys and some of the most comprehensive studies of American life that have ever been conducted. Also covered is how to access the WPA’s published works as well as those that remain as unpublished manuscripts.

Was your ancestor listed in a School Census? Count yourself lucky if they were because you may just find their full names, birthdates, and the answers to family mysteries that have eluded you. Learn what they covered and the purpose, when they were made, and where to find those that still exist.