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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 • The Ancestor Hunt
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 • The Ancestor Hunt
The Irish Quaker community is today very small but at the turn of the 19th century, they were a large, active mobile community in Ireland, with strong links to Pennsylvania, which was founded by William Penn, an English Quaker. They also kept amazingly detailed records in both the personal and business spheres. This lecture traces the history and impact of Irish Quakers and showcases their records while considering what a largescale DNA project might uncover for this endogamous and distinct community within Ireland.
The Irish Quaker community is today very small but at the turn of the 19th century, they were a large, active mobile community in Ireland, with strong links to Pennsylvania, which was founded by William Penn, an English Quaker. They also kept amazingly detailed records in both the personal and business spheres. This lecture traces the history and impact of Irish Quakers and showcases their records while considering what a largescale DNA project might uncover for this endogamous and distinct community within Ireland.
Ancestors on the Move: Migration from Farms to Cities, 1870–1920
Wed, August 27 2025: 18:00 UTC
The 1870 census was the first time farmers fell below 50% of American wage earners. Even then, they were still close, at 47.7%. By 1920, farmers were less than one third of the American population. Between 1870 and 1920, 11 million Americans migrated to cities. Learn about the events that spurred this migration and changed our ancestors from rural to urban dwellers and how to reconstruct their stories.
The 1870 census was the first time farmers fell below 50% of American wage earners. Even then, they were still close, at 47.7%. By 1920, farmers were less than one third of the American population. Between 1870 and 1920, 11 million Americans migrated to cities. Learn about the events that spurred this migration and changed our ancestors from rural to urban dwellers and how to reconstruct their stories.
Using Google Earth Web to Tell Your Family History Migration Stories
Fri, August 29 2025: 18:00 UTC
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!
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!
MyHeritage’s OldNews.com is Good News for Genealogists
Wed, September 17 2025: 16:45 UTC
OldNews.com serves as MyHeritage’s focal point for historical newspapers. This recently added website is an incredible pipeline of additional content and features and will become the number one online repository of international historical newspapers beyond the English-speaking world. Come and learn how to use this valuable tool to enhance the depth of your genealogical research.
OldNews.com serves as MyHeritage’s focal point for historical newspapers. This recently added website is an incredible pipeline of additional content and features and will become the number one online repository of international historical newspapers beyond the English-speaking world. Come and learn how to use this valuable tool to enhance the depth of your genealogical research.
A detailed look at the origin and development of the American Genealogical and Biographical Index, along with detailed instructions on how to access it today.
A detailed look at the origin and development of the American Genealogical and Biographical Index, along with detailed instructions on how to access it today.
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