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Historical Records

Watch webinars that focus on specific record categories including adoption, vital records, cemetery records, census records, city directories, immigration records, newspapers and more for locations around the world.

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52:22
So, You Think You Know All About City Directories?
Most are thick books listing the heads of household with address and occupation; later the spouse and adult children appear. Add business listings and ads plus government agencies, relief agencies, civic and religious organizations, and other listings and you have a goldmine of information. Do you know how and when the material was collected? The differences in the early ones? How to use them for the history of businesses, owners, and other entities. What about the unique directories that serve as a census, tell of military service, where someone moved to, include fake names, and provide clues to vital records. The problems with some digitized directories, issues with the canvassing for listings, and the sales pushed that occurred will be covered. I’ll share the rewards of in-depth sleuthing about the directories, their compilation, some surprises, and obvious and hidden places to find them today.
Most are thick books listing the heads of household with address and occupation; later the spouse and adult children appear. Add business listings and ads plus government agencies, relief agencies, civic and religious organizations, and other listings and you have a goldmine of information. Do you know how and when the material was collected? The differences in the early ones? How to use them for the history of businesses, owners, and other entities. What about the unique directories that serve as a census, tell of military service, where someone moved to, include fake names, and provide clues to vital records. The problems with some digitized directories, issues with the canvassing for listings, and the sales pushed that occurred will be covered. I’ll share the rewards of in-depth sleuthing about the directories, their compilation, some surprises, and obvious and hidden places to find them today.
Fri, September 15 2023: 15:30 UTC
1:08:43
1.3K views
CC
Free
A Deep Dive into U.S. City Directories at MyHeritage
U.S. City Directories are useful for finding a person’s residence at a given place and time, but we can glean many more facts from City Directories. Discover how to use MyHeritage’s U.S. City Directories collection to find not only residential information about your ancestors but much more. Learn how to use MyHeritage’s unique features and search capabilities.
U.S. City Directories are useful for finding a person’s residence at a given place and time, but we can glean many more facts from City Directories. Discover how to use MyHeritage’s U.S. City Directories collection to find not only residential information about your ancestors but much more. Learn how to use MyHeritage’s unique features and search capabilities.
Tue, July 25 2023: 18:00 UTC
8:00
619 views
CC
How a City Directory worked for me again
Following up on his recent case study webinar, “How I Debunked an Online Tree Hint”, Geoff Rasmussen shows how a city directory put a final nail in that hint’s coffin (not sure how great that analogy is, but hopefully you get the point…) and provided new clues to continue his research.
Following up on his recent case study webinar, “How I Debunked an Online Tree Hint”, Geoff Rasmussen shows how a city directory put a final nail in that hint’s coffin (not sure how great that analogy is, but hopefully you get the point…) and provided new clues to continue his research.
Thu, June 30 2022: 0:00 UTC
1:07:27
8.7K views
CC
Free
City Directories: Much More than Ye Olde Phonebooks
Learn about the fascinating details which may be hiding in your ancestors' City Directories listings, such as addresses, names of neighbors, professions, and services provided. Advertisements from old City Directories will open the door to a wealth of information about how your ancestors lived.
Learn about the fascinating details which may be hiding in your ancestors' City Directories listings, such as addresses, names of neighbors, professions, and services provided. Advertisements from old City Directories will open the door to a wealth of information about how your ancestors lived.
Tue, March 24 2020: 0:00 UTC
44:30
6.5K views
CC
Free
City Directories: No Town Too Small, No Clue Too Little
Most genealogists aren’t taking full advantage of all the clues available in city directories. Learn how go beyond a mere “lookup” of your ancestor and their family. Understand how city directories were created, the secrets of various abbreviations, and how to use the F.A.N. Club approach to getting the most…
Most genealogists aren’t taking full advantage of all the clues available in city directories. Learn how go beyond a mere “lookup” of your ancestor and their family. Understand how city directories were created, the secrets of various abbreviations, and how to use the F.A.N. Club approach to getting the most…
Wed, May 15 2019: 0:00 UTC
1:46:16
Finding and Using Land Ownership Maps
Land ownership maps in the US are generally focused on the county level. Produced largely in the nineteenth-century in single sheet or atlas format, they were sold by subscription and also developed to commemorate events such as the centennial of the American Revolution. Though advances in printing such as lithography…
Land ownership maps in the US are generally focused on the county level. Produced largely in the nineteenth-century in single sheet or atlas format, they were sold by subscription and also developed to commemorate events such as the centennial of the American Revolution. Though advances in printing such as lithography…
Wed, April 26 2017: 0:00 UTC
1:37:07
4.2K views
Watch Geoff Live: Adding a City Directory
In this webinar, Legacy’s Geoff Rasmussen will demonstrate what to do with a city directory as he adds the information to his real, personal Legacy family file. This class will be presented live and unscripted, giving attendees a first-hand look at how a professional genealogist analyzes and records information from…
In this webinar, Legacy’s Geoff Rasmussen will demonstrate what to do with a city directory as he adds the information to his real, personal Legacy family file. This class will be presented live and unscripted, giving attendees a first-hand look at how a professional genealogist analyzes and records information from…
Tue, December 13 2016: 0:00 UTC
1:02:04
Ten Years Is A Long Time – Census Substitutes for the In-Between Years (BONUS webinar for subscribers)
The federal census gives us wonderful clues for our research, but the ten years between each census is a long time. This presentation will discuss records that can be used to fill in the gap and add more points to your ancestor's timeline.
The federal census gives us wonderful clues for our research, but the ten years between each census is a long time. This presentation will discuss records that can be used to fill in the gap and add more points to your ancestor's timeline.
Fri, August 14 2015: 0:00 UTC
1:24:00
4.1K views
Direct Your Research with City Directories
Browse the pages of various types of directories to discover where your ancestor worked, lived and played. City Directories are for more than family research. The details can help you date a photograph or plot your relative on a map.
Browse the pages of various types of directories to discover where your ancestor worked, lived and played. City Directories are for more than family research. The details can help you date a photograph or plot your relative on a map.
Fri, August 2 2013: 0:00 UTC

Upcoming Live Webinars

View all (138)
Fri, April 4 2025: 1:00 UTC
Seven Sources for Seeking Scoundrels
Fri, April 4 2025: 1:00 UTC
Janice loves researching scoundrels and black sheep – they leave behind such wonderful records! This webinar looks at seven types of records family historians rarely use: police records, criminal court records, jail records, coroner’s records, church disciplinary records, divorce records and juvenile reformatory records.
Janice loves researching scoundrels and black sheep – they leave behind such wonderful records! This webinar looks at seven types of records family historians rarely use: police records, criminal court records, jail records, coroner’s records, church disciplinary records, divorce records and juvenile reformatory records.
Fri, April 4 2025: 1:00 UTC
Fri, April 11 2025: 18:00 UTC
Neglected Gold in Older Genealogical and Historical Periodicals
Fri, April 11 2025: 18:00 UTC
Digitized, shelved, and some in obscure places. Online indexes and searchable images. Genealogical and historical society periodicals remain as important tools. This session illustrates the kind of treasures in those periodicals that might not be found anywhere else. Decades upon decades of articles have covered culture, migration, ethnicity, military, churches, cemeteries, family connections, queries, and other aspects of town, city, county, and state ancestral research. Indexes and record explanations with hundreds of names that are not on major genealogy websites. The webinar demonstrates how those periodicals are useful and vital for research, how to access them, and special considerations for using them to benefit your research.
Digitized, shelved, and some in obscure places. Online indexes and searchable images. Genealogical and historical society periodicals remain as important tools. This session illustrates the kind of treasures in those periodicals that might not be found anywhere else. Decades upon decades of articles have covered culture, migration, ethnicity, military, churches, cemeteries, family connections, queries, and other aspects of town, city, county, and state ancestral research. Indexes and record explanations with hundreds of names that are not on major genealogy websites. The webinar demonstrates how those periodicals are useful and vital for research, how to access them, and special considerations for using them to benefit your research.
Fri, April 11 2025: 18:00 UTC
Wed, May 21 2025: 0:00 UTC
From Despair to Cargoes of Hope: WWII’s Displaced Persons
Wed, May 21 2025: 0:00 UTC
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.
Wed, May 21 2025: 0:00 UTC
Wed, June 4 2025: 9:00 UTC
Hidden in the Newsprint: UK Edition
Wed, June 4 2025: 9:00 UTC
An insight into the wealth of information that is available within newspapers including the British Newspaper Archive and The Gazette as well as hints and tips for getting more out of searching and finding useful articles within the newspapers.
An insight into the wealth of information that is available within newspapers including the British Newspaper Archive and The Gazette as well as hints and tips for getting more out of searching and finding useful articles within the newspapers.
Wed, June 4 2025: 9:00 UTC
Wed, June 25 2025: 18:00 UTC
Southern Ancestors…Black and White…in the Freedmen’s Bureau
Wed, June 25 2025: 18:00 UTC
Explore the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands to discover details of the Reconstruction lives of black freedmen and free people of color as well as white farmers and wealthy planters.
Explore the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands to discover details of the Reconstruction lives of black freedmen and free people of color as well as white farmers and wealthy planters.
Wed, June 25 2025: 18:00 UTC
Thu, July 10 2025: 0:00 UTC
Forgotten Records: Pension Ledgers and the Payments they Represent
Thu, July 10 2025: 0:00 UTC
Few people take the time to look at the pension payment process and the records that are created. Records may contain information about movement, kin, and primary sources for dates of death.
Few people take the time to look at the pension payment process and the records that are created. Records may contain information about movement, kin, and primary sources for dates of death.
Thu, July 10 2025: 0:00 UTC
Wed, July 16 2025: 0:00 UTC
Civil War Records: What is a Reasonably Exhaustive Search?
Wed, July 16 2025: 0:00 UTC
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.
Wed, July 16 2025: 0:00 UTC
Wed, July 23 2025: 18:00 UTC
Unlocking Notation Codes on Alien Passenger Lists
Wed, July 23 2025: 18:00 UTC
Entries in late 19th and early 20th century immigrant passenger manifests often include cryptic number and letter codes. Most genealogists simply look past them. Learn how to interpret these codes and what significant details they can reveal about your ancestor’s immigration and naturalization experience. Discover additional information about aliens who were detained or deported. This presentation is heavily illustrated with examples from New York and Philadelphia alien passenger lists and the handout includes a glossary of the terms, codes, and abbreviations found on these manifests.
Entries in late 19th and early 20th century immigrant passenger manifests often include cryptic number and letter codes. Most genealogists simply look past them. Learn how to interpret these codes and what significant details they can reveal about your ancestor’s immigration and naturalization experience. Discover additional information about aliens who were detained or deported. This presentation is heavily illustrated with examples from New York and Philadelphia alien passenger lists and the handout includes a glossary of the terms, codes, and abbreviations found on these manifests.
Wed, July 23 2025: 18:00 UTC
Wed, July 30 2025: 18:00 UTC
Top Newspaper Sites That You MUST RESEARCH!
Wed, July 30 2025: 18:00 UTC
This presentation will discuss all of the newspaper websites that you must include in your genealogy research! This lecture will discuss: • Newspapers.com • Genealogybank/Newspaper Archive • Chronicling America • Proquest Historical Newspapers • State digitized newspaper projects • Hunting Forebears
This presentation will discuss all of the newspaper websites that you must include in your genealogy research! This lecture will discuss: • Newspapers.com • Genealogybank/Newspaper Archive • Chronicling America • Proquest Historical Newspapers • State digitized newspaper projects • Hunting Forebears
Wed, July 30 2025: 18:00 UTC