Webinars focused on genealogy skill-building and standards, presented by certified genealogists. All webinars are sponsored by the Board for Certification of Genealogists.
Beyond the First Clue: Unraveling a Genealogical Mystery with the GPS
Applying the Genealogical Proof Standard uncovers Delany DeVine’s true birthplace, challenging initial evidence and showcasing reasonably exhaustive research, analysis, correlation, and resolution of conflicting evidence.
Applying the Genealogical Proof Standard uncovers Delany DeVine’s true birthplace, challenging initial evidence and showcasing reasonably exhaustive research, analysis, correlation, and resolution of conflicting evidence.
Incorporating social context in a Kinship-Determination Project isn’t just about weaving historical events and descriptions of daily life into a family narrative. Community and culture shape behavior and relationships. To understand and document our ancestors, we need to understand the society in which they lived. When we estimate a marriage date based the birth of a couple’s first child (or that the birth of a child implies a marriage), we base those assumptions on context. This lecture will explore social context and illustrate how to research and write about it within a Kinship-Determination Project.
Incorporating social context in a Kinship-Determination Project isn’t just about weaving historical events and descriptions of daily life into a family narrative. Community and culture shape behavior and relationships. To understand and document our ancestors, we need to understand the society in which they lived. When we estimate a marriage date based the birth of a couple’s first child (or that the birth of a child implies a marriage), we base those assumptions on context. This lecture will explore social context and illustrate how to research and write about it within a Kinship-Determination Project.
Using Homestead Records to Tell Your Ancestor’s Story
Imagine uncovering the stories hidden in your ancestors’ land entry papers from the Homestead Act of 1862 and later homestead laws. The material in these files will add richness to your family history. Join us as we discover potential homesteading ancestors, explore the journey of making a claim, understand the different homestead laws, and learn to access these records. Each document holds clues waiting to unfold the story of your family’s past.
Imagine uncovering the stories hidden in your ancestors’ land entry papers from the Homestead Act of 1862 and later homestead laws. The material in these files will add richness to your family history. Join us as we discover potential homesteading ancestors, explore the journey of making a claim, understand the different homestead laws, and learn to access these records. Each document holds clues waiting to unfold the story of your family’s past.
James C. Ward’s Eldorado: A Coast to Coast Identity Case
One James C. Ward was born in the 1820s and his life is documented in Massachusetts and New York. One James C. Ward served in the Mexican War and left sketches and a diary detailing his adventures in California in the 1840s. Could they be the same man? A case of identity solved through correlation.
One James C. Ward was born in the 1820s and his life is documented in Massachusetts and New York. One James C. Ward served in the Mexican War and left sketches and a diary detailing his adventures in California in the 1840s. Could they be the same man? A case of identity solved through correlation.
Mapping for Research Success (a 2025 Reisinger Lecture)
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.
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.
Assembling Indirect Evidence to Locate the Mother, Siblings, & Slaveowner of Freedman Arthur Braud (a 2025 Reisinger Lecture)
Research on formerly enslaved people is difficult by its very nature because enslaved people were classed as property prior to the Civil War and faced the challenges of marginalization in the segregated society that developed after the War. Crucial to uncovering information on enslaved people prior to emancipation is studying their lives as freedpeople after for clues as to who their families were and who their former owners might have been. As with any family, clues regarding identity, relationships, and ownership during slavery, are often uncovered as the result of applying the FAN principle and piecing together potential family groups.
Research on formerly enslaved people is difficult by its very nature because enslaved people were classed as property prior to the Civil War and faced the challenges of marginalization in the segregated society that developed after the War. Crucial to uncovering information on enslaved people prior to emancipation is studying their lives as freedpeople after for clues as to who their families were and who their former owners might have been. As with any family, clues regarding identity, relationships, and ownership during slavery, are often uncovered as the result of applying the FAN principle and piecing together potential family groups.
Cluster Research Using the FAN Principle (2025 Reisinger Lecture)
When records are scarce—or names are all too common—cluster research can be the key to unlocking your genealogical puzzles. By examining the people who surrounded your ancestor—the friends, associates, and neighbors—you can separate individuals with the same name, untangle multiple families in one place, and uncover biographical details you might otherwise miss. Join us to explore practical strategies and real-world examples that show how powerful the FAN principle can be.
When records are scarce—or names are all too common—cluster research can be the key to unlocking your genealogical puzzles. By examining the people who surrounded your ancestor—the friends, associates, and neighbors—you can separate individuals with the same name, untangle multiple families in one place, and uncover biographical details you might otherwise miss. Join us to explore practical strategies and real-world examples that show how powerful the FAN principle can be.
Resolving Conflict: A Key to Sound Genealogical Conclusions (a 2025 Reisinger Lecture)
What happens when all evidence cannot possibly be correct? The process of assembling evidence may reveal inconsistencies and the Genealogical Proof Standard emphasizes that resolving conflict is essential for credible conclusions. Through case examples, this lecture will help genealogists recognize conflicts and provide strategies to resolve them in order to build family stories that are authentic and accurate.
What happens when all evidence cannot possibly be correct? The process of assembling evidence may reveal inconsistencies and the Genealogical Proof Standard emphasizes that resolving conflict is essential for credible conclusions. Through case examples, this lecture will help genealogists recognize conflicts and provide strategies to resolve them in order to build family stories that are authentic and accurate.
In 1906, Nellie Langevin married Frank Henry Hill in Penacook, New Hampshire. Frank vanished three years later, leaving Nellie to fend for herself. Despite her efforts to divorce him, Nellie died in 1914, still officially married. Who was Nellie’s elusive husband and what happened to him? This case study resolves conflicting direct, indirect, and negative evidence to uncover Frank’s identity and highlights the importance of including the FAN Club in reasonably exhaustive research.
In 1906, Nellie Langevin married Frank Henry Hill in Penacook, New Hampshire. Frank vanished three years later, leaving Nellie to fend for herself. Despite her efforts to divorce him, Nellie died in 1914, still officially married. Who was Nellie’s elusive husband and what happened to him? This case study resolves conflicting direct, indirect, and negative evidence to uncover Frank’s identity and highlights the importance of including the FAN Club in reasonably exhaustive research.
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.
Applying for BCG Certification: A Step-by-Step Review of the 2025 Application Guide
Thinking about becoming a Certified Genealogist? This presentation walks through the 2025 BCG Application Guide, focusing on the required portfolio elements, the rubrics used for evaluation, and common questions from applicants. Attendees will gain a realistic understanding of the process, timeline, and expectations involved in submitting an initial portfolio for BCG certification.
Thinking about becoming a Certified Genealogist? This presentation walks through the 2025 BCG Application Guide, focusing on the required portfolio elements, the rubrics used for evaluation, and common questions from applicants. Attendees will gain a realistic understanding of the process, timeline, and expectations involved in submitting an initial portfolio for BCG certification.
Civil War Records: What is a Reasonably Exhaustive Search?
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.
Discovering your Eastern European Ancestors on MyHeritage
Tue, February 10 2026: 19:00 UTC
If you have Eastern European ancestors, you are probably wondering how to begin your family history search. Come and learn about how MyHeritage can get you started in your family history challenge.
If you have Eastern European ancestors, you are probably wondering how to begin your family history search. Come and learn about how MyHeritage can get you started in your family history challenge.
Searching for Sisters? Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States
Wed, February 11 2026: 19:00 UTC
Catholic nuns and sisters ran some of the U.S.’s earliest schools, orphanages, and hospitals; nursed on Civil War battlefields and during disease outbreaks; and served millions of Catholic immigrants and their families. Today, those nuns and sisters are mostly forgotten. Many changed their names and moved far from home, making it difficult for genealogists to recognize them in records. But those who can trace a woman into religious life may discover a rich trove of records about the sister and perhaps about her family. Sometimes records even survive for a religious order’s academy, hospital, or other ministry. Come see what you may be able to learn from the many archives of Catholic nuns and sisters from the author of the newly-published Searching for Sisters: Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States.
Catholic nuns and sisters ran some of the U.S.’s earliest schools, orphanages, and hospitals; nursed on Civil War battlefields and during disease outbreaks; and served millions of Catholic immigrants and their families. Today, those nuns and sisters are mostly forgotten. Many changed their names and moved far from home, making it difficult for genealogists to recognize them in records. But those who can trace a woman into religious life may discover a rich trove of records about the sister and perhaps about her family. Sometimes records even survive for a religious order’s academy, hospital, or other ministry. Come see what you may be able to learn from the many archives of Catholic nuns and sisters from the author of the newly-published Searching for Sisters: Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States.
Breaking the 1870 Brick Wall: Comprehensive Strategies for Tracing Formerly Enslaved African American Ancestors
Fri, February 13 2026: 19:00 UTC
Overcoming the 1870 brick wall in African American genealogy is challenging, but possible. This session presents a clear, step-by-step roadmap for tracing formerly enslaved ancestors using the Genealogical Proof Method. Learn how to reconstruct the freedmen generation, identify potential enslavers, and mine enslaver records for hidden ancestral clues. We’ll explore records on Ancestry and FamilySearch, including census and vital records, Freedmen’s Bureau files, cohabitation records, and estate records. If you’re ready to move beyond 1870 and build a fuller picture of your family’s past, this webinar will equip you with the tools and confidence to begin.
Overcoming the 1870 brick wall in African American genealogy is challenging, but possible. This session presents a clear, step-by-step roadmap for tracing formerly enslaved ancestors using the Genealogical Proof Method. Learn how to reconstruct the freedmen generation, identify potential enslavers, and mine enslaver records for hidden ancestral clues. We’ll explore records on Ancestry and FamilySearch, including census and vital records, Freedmen’s Bureau files, cohabitation records, and estate records. If you’re ready to move beyond 1870 and build a fuller picture of your family’s past, this webinar will equip you with the tools and confidence to begin.
By registering, you are submitting your information to Legacy Family Tree Webinars and agreeing to let us use it to contact you.
Thank you for registering!
You should receive a confirmation email with a link to the webinar soon.
You’ll also receive a reminder both the day before and one hour before the webinar begins. Didn’t receive a confirmation email?
You successfully registered for %s.
You should receive a confirmation email with a link to the webinar soon.
You’ll also receive a reminder both the day before and one hour before the webinar begins. Didn’t receive a confirmation email?
