The Moravians in the 1700s not only settled Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but their mission work took them to other areas to work with Native Americans. Moravian records include Community Diaries which were required to be kept by each settlement. They were a way for them to record not only ecclesiastical events but other events that affected their settlement such as their interactions with native populations and slaves as they went about doing their missionary work. The German heritage of the Moravians shows in the details of naming visitors (along with any aliases) and relationships among the individuals mentioned. The Moravian records are truly a treasure-trove for anyone whose ancestors were in the same vicinity or time.

Sometimes we cannot see the forest for the trees. Let’s back up and look at the research question from a different perspective.

In family history research, all documents, even “official” ones, should be viewed with a critical eye. In this lecture, Daniel will walk you through some of the documentation errors he’s found over the years while conducting his personal family history research. He’ll discuss the importance of historical documents in genealogy research, where and how to find them (online, at home, and through family members), possible mistakes, and how best to analyze them before extracting information, rather than trusting them blindly.

The study of letters, documents, and artifacts often tell the deeper stories of our Ancestors and their neighbors. Finding the wonderful stories and information preserved in private letters and manuscripts is worth the extra effort.

There are over 200 lineage societies that exist today – more than the commonly known societies. Perhaps you have an ancestor that was accused of witchcraft? A founder of a town? A colonial tradesman? British royalty? There is a society for all of these and many more.

Tracking a rascally ancestor through the records can be great fun – and a great challenge. When every record he ever left appears to be a lie, where is the truth to be found?

Learn how to read the features of a building as a multi-layered story and interpret them in a historical and ethnocultural context. Discover documentation from a wide variety of sources that will bring life and identity to your understanding of your four (or more!) walls. Questions we’ll learn how to…

Using the basic tools of family history research, discover additional family information with these records and writings. Learn the importance of analyzing the information that you find and realizing how important collateral/cluster line research is in helping to move you toward success in the genealogical process.

Have you ever wondered if there was more to an ancestor’s home address or workplace address? Did you know that in the early 20th century many US cities reconfigured their “grid” resulting in new addresses? Do you know why certain streets simply seem to “disappear”? There’s more to street naming…

It is a truth universally acknowledgement that if we can't find our ancestor's surname, our chances of tracing that ancestral line are pretty much zip, zero, zilch. But a known surname can also prove elusive because it is recorded in such a way that we cannot locate it. This too…

Family historians love to share their research with their relatives, but what if your family doesn't read the book you spent years writing? You don't want all that effort to go to waste, do you? Over the last dozen years or so, I've developed lots of sneaky ways to make…

Many valuable and overlooked databases don't make headline news. Every day new ones are being created. Let's explore some juicy gems.