| Schedule | Recorded Presentations & Videos | Instructor Bios |
WELCOME!
Thank you for registering for the online course, An Advanced Look at Go-To Records!
As genealogists, we have certain sets of records that we turn to time and again: vital/church records, state and federal censuses, probate, land, and town records. Yet none of these resources were created with family historians in mind. In this course, experts from our Research Services team will give you the tools and understanding you need to dissect, question, and analyze go-to records. By understanding why, how, and by whom certain records were created, you will become a better researcher, be able to verify connections, and ultimately take your family history research to new heights.
This course includes five 90-minute classes; exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation; and in-depth q&a sessions with the instructors.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Return to this page often for additional resources! You will have until August 31, 2019 to review all materials.
| Course Activity | Dates of Access | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Class #1 | ||
| Class #1: Online presentation (live!) | 4/10/2019, 6:00 eastern time | Class #1: Church and Vital Records Instructor: James Heffernan, Senior Researcher Church and vital records are often considered the gold standard for family history records. When they exist—or survive—they can provide essential data on your ancestor and often their parents. This record group, however, is not without a few disclaimers and caveats. This class will teach you to step back and analyze the who, what, where, and why of these records and will introduce you to best practices in analyzing any record, source, and linkage. |
| Video of Class #1 | 4/11/2019 and after | Watch the first class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants. |
| Class #2 | ||
| Class #2: Online presentation (live!) | 4/17/2019, 6:00 eastern time |
Class #2: State and Federal Census |
| Video of Class #2 | 4/18/2019 and after | Watch the second class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants. |
| Class #3 | ||
| Class #3: Online presentation (live!) | 4/24/2019, 6:00 eastern time |
Class #3: Town Records Note: To attend, return to your confirmation email received at the time of registration with a link to the live event. If you are unable to attend the live event a recording will be posted to this page, the following day (see below). |
| Video of Class #3 | 4/25/2019 and after | Watch the third class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants. |
| Class #4 | ||
| Class #4: Online presentation (live!) | 5/1/2019, 6:00 eastern time |
Class #4: Land Records Note: To attend, return to your confirmation email received at the time of registration with a link to the live event. If you are unable to attend the live event a recording will be posted to this page, the following day (see below). |
| Video of Class #4 | 5/2/2019 and after | Watch the fourth class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants. |
| Class #5 | ||
| Class #5: Online presentation (live!) | 5/8/2019, 6:00 eastern time |
Class #5: Probate Records Note: To attend, return to your confirmation email received at the time of registration with a link to the live event. If you are unable to attend the live event a recording will be posted to this page, the following day (see below). |
| Video of Class #5 | 5/9/2019 and after | Watch the fifth class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants. |
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS & VIDEOS
Class 1: Church and Vital Records
Presented by: James Heffernan, Senior Researcher
Running Time: 1:24:27
Church and vital records are often considered the gold standard for family history records. When they exist—or survive—they can provide essential data on your ancestor and often their parents. This record group, however, is not without a few disclaimers and caveats. This class will teach you to step back and analyze the who, what, where, and why of these records and will introduce you to best practices in analyzing any record, source, and linkage.
Class 2: State and Federal Census
Presented by: Lindsay Fulton, Director of Research Services
Running Time: 1:39:07
The census is a great resource for family historians, but like most records, it wasn’t designed with genealogists in mind. The census isn’t as precise as we hope it to be and as researchers, we often make assumptions regarding the information provided. This class will give you the full context of the census and help you to use census records more fully and more accurately.
Class 3: Town Records
Presented by: Sheilagh Doerfler, Senior Researcher
Running Time: 1:37:20
Town records can include key genealogical information, including births, marriages, burials, freeman lists, warnings out, and more. Learn how to locate, utilize, and analyze these materials for use in your own family history research.
Class 4: Land Records
Presented by: Lindsay Fulton, Director of Research Services
Running Time: 1:36:46
Land records are an important, but sometimes overlooked resource for many family historians. Hidden in the legalese and metes and bounds, there can be critical clues to extended family members, the location of ancestral homelands, and family relationships.
Class 5: Probate Records
Presented by: Katrina Fahy, Senior Researcher
Running Time: 1:31:36
Probate records are another go-to resource that are sometimes misunderstood. As researchers, we are quick to pull out key names without understanding the full context of the record. This final class will teach you how to look at the full picture, make meaningful conclusions when names are omitted, and pull out more than just names from the record.
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Sheilagh Doerfler, Senior Researcher received her B.A. in History and Communication from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Her research interests include New England, Ireland, Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Norway, and Sweden.
Katrina Fahy, Senior Researcher a native of Dedham, Massachusetts, earned a B.A. in History and Art History from St. Anselm College. Previously, she interned at the New Hampshire Historical Society, constructing biographies of New Hampshire quilt makers as well as transcribing a mid-nineteenth century New Hampshire diary and creating an educational program based on its contents. Katrina's research areas include New England and South East regions, the American Revolution, and lineage society research.
Lindsay Fulton, Director of Research Services joined the New England Historic Genealogical Society staff in 2012, first as a member of the Research Services team and then as Genealogist in the Library. She has been the Director of Research Services since 2016. In addition to helping constituents with their research, Lindsay has also authored a number of Portable Genealogists including, “Applying to Lineage Societies,” “the United States Federal Census, 1790-1840,” and “the United States Federal Census, 1850-1940.” She is a frequent contributor to the American Ancestors blog, Vita-Brevis, and has appeared as a guest on the Extreme Genes radio program. Before, American Ancestors, Lindsay worked at the National Archives and Records Administration in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she designed and implemented an original curriculum program exploring the Chinese Exclusion Era for elementary school students. She holds a B.A. from Merrimack College and M.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Her areas of expertise include, New England and New York research with a focus on lineage society applications.
James Heffernan, Senior Researhcer earned his BA in history at Boston College. Before joining the American Ancestors team, he worked in the conservation department of the John J. Burns Library at Boston College and the research library at Plimoth Plantation. Propelled by his interests in genealogy and history, James spent a semester abroad at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. In addition to Slavic history, he is very interested in the history of Colonial America and 19th century Massachusetts.
COURSE HANDOUTS
Class 1 Handout
Class 1 Slides Worksheet
Class 1 Slides (large)
Class 1 Homework
Class 2 Handout
Class 2 Slides Worksheet
Class 2 Slides (large)
Class 2 Homework
Class 3 Handout
Class 3 Slides Worksheet
Class 3 Slides (large)
Class 3 Homework
Class 4 Handout
Class 4 Slides Worksheet
Class 4 Slides (large)
Class 4 Homework
Class 5 Handout
Class 5 Slides Worksheet
Class 5 Slides (large)
Class 5 Homework
Class 5 Homework Document
Class 5 Homework Answers
RESOURCES
Five-Generation Chart
Family Group Sheet
Research Log
Annotated Research Log
Record Analysis Worksheet
1800-1810 Census Comparison
1810-1820 Census Comparison
1830-1840 census comparison, free white families
1830-1840 census comparison, free colored families
1830-1840 census comparison, slave families
Deed Abstract Template (.xslx)