Germans have been migrating to Canada since the 18th Century, and have played major roles in the development of the nation. Early arrivals came from German territory, while more recent arrivals came from countries such as Poland, the Soviet Union or Brazil. Germans appear in a variety of Canadian records, including some that do not have Canadians of British descent. This session included basic history of Germans in Canada as well as a guide to useful sources.

This presentation delves into the lives of Norwegian immigrants in the United States during the 1800s, exploring their contributions to American society and the challenges they faced along the way. As waves of Norwegians sought better opportunities, many settled in the Midwest, particularly in states like Minnesota and Iowa, where they played a pivotal role in shaping local communities. By examining historical newspapers within the OldNews archive, we can uncover valuable insights into their everyday experiences through personal stories, community events, further bringing the process of cultural integration to life. Ultimately, not only highlighting the resilience and determination of Norwegian immigrants but also providing a broader context for understanding early Norwegian-American experiences, whilst also discovering the personal narratives that have shaped their enduring legacy.

This class will briefly explain the different types of DNA (autosomal, Y-DNA and mtDNA) and provide helpful tips for analyzing your DNA matches to identify your strongest matches to help you go back to your immigrant ancestor. A few examples of using this approach will be shown through mini case studies.

A little-known part of American history is the Asian immigrants who settled in the South in the 1800s and 1900s. Some were brought to work in agriculture, others established groceries and other businesses. Under Jim Crow segregation, they had different statuses as “Colored” or “White” depending on where they lived and the time.

It is estimated that over 400,000 Swiss immigrants have come to North America since its settlement. With over 80% of them being German speaking, they often get lumped into “Germans to America,” but the records found in Switzerland can be vastly different, and the Swiss that came to our shores can have very different backgrounds.

Descendants of an early Ohio family had no idea of their origins. Following an associated family brought success, even after wading into foreign- language documents. This presentation shows what to do when traditional records fail to reveal an ancestor’s place of origin and how to use cluster research to break through the brick wall. Discussion will include how to determine the place of origin using records found in the United States and what to do when no records exist on your direct line.

Wrong information, multiple dead ends, and one brick wall after another, make finding immigrant origins for one man, almost impossible.

Learn about 19th and 20th century sources for finding your ancestors’ arrival in New Zealand.

Did your Mexican ancestors immigrate to the United States in the 20th century? This period of history witnessed significant waves of Mexican immigration to the U.S., both permanent and temporary. The types of immigration records introduced or refined during this era, provide a wealth of information.

Germans began immigrating to the United States in 1683, according to documented history. This talk will highlight significant aspects of the first four major waves of migration, through 1910. The areas from which they came and motivations that typified each wave will be detailed. Available immigration and emigration records help tell the immigrant’s story. Laws changed over time and impacted various aspects of the immigration experience.

Family historians face significant challenges tracing immigrant ancestors. Changes in language, culture, family composition, given name, surname, country of residence, and occupation tend to obscure the origins of many immigrants. This presentation introduces seven methodologies to effectively trace immigrant origins, illustrated with examples from the early 1600s to the early…

There are two mass movements called “Great Migrations” that affected the settlement that part of America known now as the United States. The earlier “Great Migration” refers to immigrants who came to America during the years from 1620 to 1633. The individual immigrants who arrived in America during this migration have been extensively documented by genealogist Robert Anderson working with The Great Migration Project. This webinar will explain this first Great Migration and highlight the work done by The Great Migration Project