By
By
Webinar Library
BCG Methodology and Skills Board for Certification of Genealogists, History Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series

The Many Wives of Howard William Lowe: Working with Social History to Glean Genealogical Insights (a 2023 Reisinger Lecture)

Gary Ball-Kilbourne, PhD, CG
Oct 20, 2023
688 views
CC
Want to watch the full webinar?
Join now to access all 2,307 webinars and unlock all features.
Join now
Syllabus
Join now

Content

Play. Playing.
Welcome
1m 05s
Play. Playing.
Introduction
10m 07s
Play. Playing.
Howard William Lowe
11m 43s
Play. Playing.
Marriage 1 - Clara Hegg
7m 27s
Play. Playing.
Marriage 2 - Vera Urdahl
2m 58s
Play. Playing.
Marriage 3 - Frances Enright
5m 17s
Play. Playing.
Marriage 4 - Catherine Collins
3m 06s
Play. Playing.
Marriage 5 - Catherine Lowe
17m 09s
Play. Playing.
Questions / answers
3m 13s

About this webinar

Genealogists are expected to conduct research not just reasonably exhaustively but also broadly. Understanding the social milieu of the specific time and place within which an individual lived is an essential element of broad research. A case study focusing on an early twentieth-century blue-collar worker in western Minnesota and his several wives illustrates how social history provides insights illuminating their lives.

This class is presented live at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City as part of the Joy Reisinger Memorial Lecture Series and is being broadcasted by Legacy Family Tree Webinars.

About the speaker

About the speaker

Gary Ball-Kilbourne, PhD, CG
Gary Ball-Kilbourne, PhD, CG®, is a genealogical researcher, teacher, and writer. He is a trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists and serves as the editor of BCG’s publication, OnBoard. He has written articles for the
Learn more...

Comments (42)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

1000 characters remaining
Cancel Submit

Sort by Newest
Sort by Close.
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Likes
  1. TT
    tina tuttle
    1 year ago

    Nice framing of historical context. Interesting case. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. XM
    Xana Miller
    1 year ago

    Thank you

    Reply
  3. TS
    Teresa Shaw
    1 year ago

    Can’t wait to see again!

    Reply
  4. JH
    Jane Harmon
    1 year ago

    The webinar itself is very instructive. Add to that the amazing syllabus. I’ve not seen such extensive footnotes, carefully written citations all, outside of a college course. And that is followed by two more pages of sources and suggested readings. A scholarly work for a short presentation of a great mystery story, but silent instruction as an example for genealogists to emulate. Excellent work on all points!

    Reply
  5. RM
    Rochelle Males
    1 year ago

    Very interesting things to think about and definitely makes me want to take a closer look at some of the “elusive” divorces I’ve come across in my own research. Thank you!

    Reply
  6. SG
    Sharron Gebhardt
    1 year ago

    Excellent contextual presentation and analysis that widens case study perspectives.

    Reply
  7. ST
    Shannon Terwedo
    1 year ago

    Enjoyed the social context focus of this case study. Helpful demonstration of scholarly social research integration to understand social behavioral of the place and time studied.

    Reply
  8. JT
    Jackie Thornton
    1 year ago

    Excellent presentation

    Reply
Show all comments

Related Webinars

52:53
BCGMethodology and SkillsReisinger Memorial Lecture Series
Peeling the Onion: Getting to the Original Sources (a 2022 Reisinger lecture)
Gary Ball-Kilbourne, PhD, CG
1.0K views
CC
Peeling the Onion: Getting to the Original Sources (a 2022 Reisinger lecture)
Genealogy Standards 38 and 58 strongly express a preference for using original sources. Diligent researching and a few tricks of the trade enable genealogists to find original sources that underlie authored narratives and derivative sources.
BCGMethodology and SkillsReisinger Memorial Lecture Series
Peeling the Onion: Getting to the Original Sources (a 2022 Reisinger lecture)
CC
Gary Ball-Kilbourne, PhD, CG
1.0K views
Genealogy Standards 38 and 58 strongly express a preference for using original sources. Diligent researching and a few tricks of the trade enable genealogists to find original sources that underlie authored narratives and derivative sources.
Fri, October 7 2022: 16:45 UTC
Register for free
1:13:06
BCGMethodology and Skills
Sense and Sensibility: The Power of Logic, Intuition, and Critical Thinking
Robbie Johnson, CG
989 views
CC
Sense and Sensibility: The Power of Logic, Intuition, and Critical Thinking
Is it logical that a woman born in 1752 gave birth to a son in 1848? Do I have enough evidence to conclude that Johan Kannon of Trondheim, Norway, was the same person as John Connell from Cut-and-Shoot, Texas? Why do I share 300 cM of DNA with three people I’ve never heard of? Genealogists make hundreds of decisions everyday based on thousands of pieces of information harvested from various sources. We automatically, and often unconsciously, use common sense, logic, and even intuition, to identify relevant evidence, problem-solve, and answer complex questions. Learning to harness the power of logic, syllogism, and our own “Spidey-senses,” can help scale brick-walls, solve DNA mysteries, and organize mountains of information. This talk focuses on how to incorporate logic, common sense, and critical thinking in a more deliberate way to create hypotheses, test theories, and support conclusions. Johnson will share exercises that can bulk up logic and critical thought muscles, as well as practical tips on how to apply common sense and sensibility to your family history research and writing.
BCGMethodology and Skills
Sense and Sensibility: The Power of Logic, Intuition, and Critical Thinking
CC
Robbie Johnson, CG
989 views
Is it logical that a woman born in 1752 gave birth to a son in 1848? Do I have enough evidence to conclude that Johan Kannon of Trondheim, Norway, was the same person as John Connell from Cut-and-Shoot, Texas? Why do I share 300 cM of DNA with three people I’ve never heard of? Genealogists make hundreds of decisions everyday based on thousands of pieces of information harvested from various sources. We automatically, and often unconsciously, use common sense, logic, and even intuition, to identify relevant evidence, problem-solve, and answer complex questions. Learning to harness the power of logic, syllogism, and our own “Spidey-senses,” can help scale brick-walls, solve DNA mysteries, and organize mountains of information. This talk focuses on how to incorporate logic, common sense, and critical thinking in a more deliberate way to create hypotheses, test theories, and support conclusions. Johnson will share exercises that can bulk up logic and critical thought muscles, as well as practical tips on how to apply common sense and sensibility to your family history research and writing.
Wed, October 16 2024: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:11:40
Places and EthnicitiesBCGMethodology and Skills
A Myriad of Slave Databases
LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG...
919 views
CC
A Myriad of Slave Databases
In the summer of 2023 American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society announced the collaborative 10 Million Names project, an undertaking to recover the names of people of African descent who were enslaved in the area of the United States. This monumental task of centralizing datasets about African Americans is likely to take years to accomplish; in the interim, this webinar provides a useful survey of the many existing databases that serve a similar purpose though limited in scope.
Places and EthnicitiesBCGMethodology and Skills
A Myriad of Slave Databases
CC
LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, FASG
919 views
In the summer of 2023 American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society announced the collaborative 10 Million Names project, an undertaking to recover the names of people of African descent who were enslaved in the area of the United States. This monumental task of centralizing datasets about African Americans is likely to take years to accomplish; in the interim, this webinar provides a useful survey of the many existing databases that serve a similar purpose though limited in scope.
Wed, September 18 2024: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:16:31
BCGMethodology and Skills
He Had a Brother Who Disappeared: Finding John H. Hickey, Formerly of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois
Debra S. Mieszala, CG
970 views
CC
He Had a Brother Who Disappeared: Finding John H. Hickey, Formerly of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois
Family tradition holds that John H. Hickey of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, disappeared. This case study proves John "disappeared" and establishes the missing man's fate. A patchwork of records allowed a glimpse into the life of a person thought dead.
BCGMethodology and Skills
He Had a Brother Who Disappeared: Finding John H. Hickey, Formerly of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois
CC
Debra S. Mieszala, CG
970 views
Family tradition holds that John H. Hickey of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, disappeared. This case study proves John "disappeared" and establishes the missing man's fate. A patchwork of records allowed a glimpse into the life of a person thought dead.
Wed, August 21 2024: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
10:31
TechnologyMethodology and SkillsTechZone
AI and Genealogy: Using AI for Social History
Thomas MacEntee
421 views
CC
AI and Genealogy: Using AI for Social History
While you won’t be able to find genealogy-related records using artificial intelligence, you will be able to use AI to learn more about an ancestor’s “social history.” Social history details how an ancestor lived including where they lived, their occupation, the cost of goods and services, and why they may have migrated to or from a location. Social history “fills in the dash” between an ancestor’s birth date and death date.
TechnologyMethodology and SkillsTechZone
AI and Genealogy: Using AI for Social History
CC
Thomas MacEntee
421 views
While you won’t be able to find genealogy-related records using artificial intelligence, you will be able to use AI to learn more about an ancestor’s “social history.” Social history details how an ancestor lived including where they lived, their occupation, the cost of goods and services, and why they may have migrated to or from a location. Social history “fills in the dash” between an ancestor’s birth date and death date.
Thu, August 8 2024: 0:02 UTC
Register for free
1:06:01
BCGMethodology and Skills
Oral Genealogy in Asia-Pacific: The Essence of Personal Identity and Tribal Connections
David S. Ouimette, CG, CGL
144 views
CC
Oral Genealogy in Asia-Pacific: The Essence of Personal Identity and Tribal Connections
Oral genealogies celebrate ancestral connections in indigenous cultures across Asia-Pacific. As one paramount chief in Samoa declared, “The most important thing for children to understand is their family connections. The knowledge of history is their treasure—not gold and silver, but genealogy.” Learn about the significance and richness of oral genealogies and current efforts to preserve them in Asia and the Pacific.
BCGMethodology and Skills
Oral Genealogy in Asia-Pacific: The Essence of Personal Identity and Tribal Connections
CC
David S. Ouimette, CG, CGL
144 views
Oral genealogies celebrate ancestral connections in indigenous cultures across Asia-Pacific. As one paramount chief in Samoa declared, “The most important thing for children to understand is their family connections. The knowledge of history is their treasure—not gold and silver, but genealogy.” Learn about the significance and richness of oral genealogies and current efforts to preserve them in Asia and the Pacific.
Wed, July 17 2024: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:24:18
BCGMethodology and SkillsWriting and Publishing
Editing Your Own Work – Part 2
Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGG
1.3K views
CC
Editing Your Own Work – Part 2
Genealogists write. Their written narratives include stories of ancestral families, biographies of individual ancestors, and explanations supporting genealogical proofs. For their writing to succeed, genealogists—like all effective writers—repeatedly self-edit everything they write. The process results in polished products that the genealogist’s readers will understand, enjoy, and cherish. Emphasizing genealogical narrative, these two webinars will address the self-editing process. Part 1 will focus on “big-picture” editing, including stages of self-editing; focus; keeping the writer out of the narrative; editing the writing’s overall structure, organization, and flow; and improving major and minor subdivisions of written genealogical narratives, including paragraphing. Part 2 will focus on “nitty-gritty” editing, including capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, word choice, and reducing word count.
BCGMethodology and SkillsWriting and Publishing
Editing Your Own Work – Part 2
CC
Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGG
1.3K views
Genealogists write. Their written narratives include stories of ancestral families, biographies of individual ancestors, and explanations supporting genealogical proofs. For their writing to succeed, genealogists—like all effective writers—repeatedly self-edit everything they write. The process results in polished products that the genealogist’s readers will understand, enjoy, and cherish. Emphasizing genealogical narrative, these two webinars will address the self-editing process. Part 1 will focus on “big-picture” editing, including stages of self-editing; focus; keeping the writer out of the narrative; editing the writing’s overall structure, organization, and flow; and improving major and minor subdivisions of written genealogical narratives, including paragraphing. Part 2 will focus on “nitty-gritty” editing, including capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, word choice, and reducing word count.
Wed, June 19 2024: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:27:11
BCGMethodology and SkillsWriting and Publishing
Editing Your Own Work – Part 1
Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGG
2.0K views
CC
Editing Your Own Work – Part 1
Genealogists write. Their written narratives include stories of ancestral families, biographies of individual ancestors, and explanations supporting genealogical proofs. For their writing to succeed, genealogists—like all effective writers—repeatedly self-edit everything they write. The process results in polished products that the genealogist’s readers will understand, enjoy, and cherish. Emphasizing genealogical narrative, these two webinars will addresses the self-editing process. Part 1 will focus on “big-picture” editing, including stages of self-editing; focus; keeping the writer out of the narrative; editing the writing’s overall structure, organization, and flow; and improving major and minor subdivisions of written genealogical narratives, including paragraphing. Part 2 will focus on “nitty-gritty” editing, including capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, word choice, and reducing word count.
BCGMethodology and SkillsWriting and Publishing
Editing Your Own Work – Part 1
CC
Thomas W. Jones, PhD, CG, CGG
2.0K views
Genealogists write. Their written narratives include stories of ancestral families, biographies of individual ancestors, and explanations supporting genealogical proofs. For their writing to succeed, genealogists—like all effective writers—repeatedly self-edit everything they write. The process results in polished products that the genealogist’s readers will understand, enjoy, and cherish. Emphasizing genealogical narrative, these two webinars will addresses the self-editing process. Part 1 will focus on “big-picture” editing, including stages of self-editing; focus; keeping the writer out of the narrative; editing the writing’s overall structure, organization, and flow; and improving major and minor subdivisions of written genealogical narratives, including paragraphing. Part 2 will focus on “nitty-gritty” editing, including capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure, spelling, word choice, and reducing word count.
Wed, May 22 2024: 0:00 UTC
Register for free
1:13:08
BCGMethodology and SkillsPlaces and Ethnicities
French Emigrants: They Were Not All Huguenots, or Nobles, or from Alsace-Lorraine
Anne Morddel, CG
624 views
CC
French Emigrants: They Were Not All Huguenots, or Nobles, or from Alsace-Lorraine
One of the great difficulties for people researching their French immigrant ancestors’ roots is that so little is known outside of France about when and why the French left their country. This dearth of knowledge has led many family historians of the 19th century to presume Huguenot, noble émigré or Alsace-Lorraine ancestry for any ancestor with a French name. The supposition became a family legend that then became a research frustration as more recent family historians attempt to prove what was never more than a misguided supposition. This webinar looks at the many waves of French migration, as well as the three mentioned in the title, from the 17th to the 20th centuries. The historical reasons for when, why and to where they emigrated will provide the key points to bear in mind when conducting research. The bibliography, in English and French, contains not only books and articles concerning French emigration but a list of websites to aid the researcher.
BCGMethodology and SkillsPlaces and Ethnicities
French Emigrants: They Were Not All Huguenots, or Nobles, or from Alsace-Lorraine
CC
Anne Morddel, CG
624 views
One of the great difficulties for people researching their French immigrant ancestors’ roots is that so little is known outside of France about when and why the French left their country. This dearth of knowledge has led many family historians of the 19th century to presume Huguenot, noble émigré or Alsace-Lorraine ancestry for any ancestor with a French name. The supposition became a family legend that then became a research frustration as more recent family historians attempt to prove what was never more than a misguided supposition. This webinar looks at the many waves of French migration, as well as the three mentioned in the title, from the 17th to the 20th centuries. The historical reasons for when, why and to where they emigrated will provide the key points to bear in mind when conducting research. The bibliography, in English and French, contains not only books and articles concerning French emigration but a list of websites to aid the researcher.
Tue, April 16 2024: 16:00 UTC
Register for free