U.S. Great Lakes Region Accreditation: A Genealogical Treasure Trove
Kaye Ford, AG®
Content
About this webinar
Elevate your skills and become an Accredited Genealogist® professional by pursuing U.S. Great Lakes Region accreditation through the International Commission for Accreditation of Professional Genealogists(SM) [ICAPGen(SM)]. This course is your key to unlocking the region's rich history and diverse genealogical records. Dive into the unique resources of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. You'll explore a variety of records, from Ohio's complex land records and the migration trails of Indiana and Illinois to Michigan's maritime archives and Wisconsin's logging and lumberjack industry. Through hands-on methodology strategies and templates, you'll begin building your essential Personal Reference Guide (PRG). Whether you're starting your accreditation journey or strengthening your existing knowledge, this is the perfect opportunity to master the genealogical accreditation process and become an expert in the U.S. Great Lakes.
About the speaker
Key points and insights
Navigating the vast array of records in the US Great Lakes region presents both unique historical challenges and tremendous opportunities for genealogists. In this Legacy Family Tree Webinars presentation, professional genealogist Kaye Ford explores the deep genealogical treasure trove of the historic Northwest Territory—encompassing Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota. The webinar highlights essential regional resources, from early land surveys and state censuses to specialized local repositories and maritime logs. Designed for researchers aiming to overcome midwestern brick walls or pursue professional credentials through the International Commission for Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen), this session provides practical methodologies to transform complex regional research into structured, successful outcomes.
- Revolutionary Land Systems: The Great Lakes region served as the original testing ground for the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), replacing confusing "metes and bounds" boundaries with precise mathematical township grids that researchers can overlay onto modern tools like Google Earth to pinpoint exact ancestral property.
- Hidden Local Repositories: Unique archival networks, such as the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system and the Wisconsin Area Research Center Network, house vast collections of county court files, poorhouse records, and local occupational logs that remain unindexed online.
- Systematic Research Tools: Creating a personalized Personal Reference Guide (PRG) allows genealogists to organize vital statistics, local repository inventories, state disaster histories, and citation templates to navigate complex regional research efficiently.
To fully explore the wealth of strategies, repository insights, and historical contexts available for this region, view the complete webinar presentation. Watching the full session provides a deeper understanding of specific record sets—such as early territorial papers, German church records, state censuses, and local cemetery databases—that can directly advance your family history. Be sure to explore the comprehensive syllabus materials provided with the webinar, as the additional guides, links, and reference lists offer invaluable tools to enhance your research toolkit and inspire your next major breakthrough.
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Comments (20)
Thank you Kaye for an amazing excellent presentation. Like most of us watching I learned so much about the Great Lakes. Even though I will not be using the information for accreditation it was so interesting and well worthwhile watching. Thanks again
Kaye was very well organized and her presentation provided examples of why a resource is useful, not just a list of useful ones. Her personal resource guide provided a fountain of ideas for preparing to become accredited and to utilize it and build upon it while continuing to work in the field. She included some things I had not thought about including, but see the usefulness of it. Thank you Kaye for your preparation and presentation.
These certification webinars are AWESOME for learning new things about the areas you are researching! Always such great insights, ideas for books websites and new avenues to explore!
Awesome webinar! Well structured with engaging and a treasure trove of information. The slides were fantastically built and kept your attention. Even if you aren't looking for accreditation this was super helpful just in the planning and organizing of a PRG, Thanks!
Kaye gave me some great ideas for my own research and creating a PRG. Thank you
Ms. Ford gave a excellent presentation. So comprehensive!!
Excellent webinar! It was jammed packed with info and has me getting excited about the accreditation process! I want to start developing a PRG! Great source to go back to for info…. And a time saver as well!
Excellent, more info than I expected. thanks