The next Best of Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL series webinar is on Friday (a members-only event). Learn more here.

The next Best of Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL series webinar is on Friday (a members-only event). Learn more here.

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Historical Records Migration Records

Direct Your Letters to San Jose: Following Ancestors’ Migration Trails

David W. Jackson
Aug 31, 2022
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Content

Play. Playing.
Welcome
1m 45s
Play. Playing.
Speaker's Introduction
1m 07s
Play. Playing.
Going West
36m 27s
Play. Playing.
Arrival in California
8m 53s
Play. Playing.
Going Back East
5m 34s
Play. Playing.
Announcements / prizes
5m 14s
Play. Playing.
Questions / answers
12m 46s

About this webinar

U.S. Migration patterns trended from the east to west coasts as Manifest Destiny played out in our American ancestors’ lives. Did they write letters? Yes, they did. Did they keep a diary? Likely. But, have those documents survived, and if so where might they be located? Follow through historical documents the 100+year Westward Migration of one family who created, saved, and handed down pertinent historical documents pinpointing their migration from Kentucky to Illinois in the early 1830s, chronicled an overland journey to the California Gold Rush 20 years later in 1850, then later emigrated from Illinois to Kansas in the early days of the Civil War. Discover what brought one descendant to Kansas City, Missouri, after World War II. Where’s their next stop? This case study is studded with potential research avenues for any genealogist, anthropologist, archivist, cartographer, or automobile enthusiast.

About the speaker

About the speaker

David W. Jackson
David W. Jackson began genealogy in 1980 at age 11. He graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Historic Preservation from Southeast Missouri State University. He enjoyed a 20+year career as a local historian and archivist for nonprofit historical o
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Comments (32)

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  1. DR
    Dawn Rossi
    2 years ago

    It was so great to hear your voice! This was very informative and interesting!

    Reply
  2. FU
    Fran Ussery
    2 years ago

    Learned so much!

    Reply
  3. CB
    Crystal Barth
    2 years ago

    Excellent…. very informative

    Reply
  4. WB
    Wanda Bower
    2 years ago

    I had thought about not watching this webinar because when my ancestors reached Pennsylvania, they just plopped down and stayed there until more modern generations. But this webinar was interesting all the way through. I appreciate and enjoyed the historical corrections about how those who traveled west actually traveled.

    Reply
  5. ED
    Elsie Deatherage
    2 years ago

    I am very interested in visiting the research library at the trails center in Independence. I’ve been there but was not aware that there was a research library.

    Reply
  6. PD
    Patricia Diane Godinez
    2 years ago

    I thought the whole presentation was very interesting. I liked the visuals. I enjoy history and especially stories about real people. The Campbell brothers seemed to be excellent role models for future generations. I liked hearing about Jack and seeing the math worked out, to know if the Campbells indeed got money from their time in the gold fields.

    Reply
  7. CB
    Cyndy Bray
    2 years ago

    Outstanding!

    Reply
  8. GG
    Ginger Goodell
    2 years ago

    I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated Mr. Jackson’s presentation. I’ll be recommending it to my fellow genealogists who missed it.

    Reply
Show all comments

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