Thank you for registering for the online course, Getting Organized: Research, Files, Findings!
When you first began your family history research, you may have thought that it would be simple to keep track of all the information. Assuredly, you quickly discovered that it’s not so simple--files and findings multiply exponentially. Staying organized is an important part of the genealogical process. Taking the time to organize your research, results, and files as you go will give you more time for productive research. This online seminar will provide you with several tips, tools, and best practices for organizing your research and results at every step of your family history journey.
This course includes exclusive access to three 90-minute lecture recordings and handouts. These recordings and all course materials will be available for the foreseeable future.
COURSE TOPICS
Class 1: Organizing Your Research
Presented by Ann G. Lawthers
With all of the genealogical information at your fingertips today, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, go down research rabbit holes, and lose focus. In this first class, Genealogist Ann G. Lawthers will offer tips on how to make a research plan and stick to it! Using templates, worksheets, and other research tools available at AmericanAncestors.org, you’ll learn how to stay organized and get the most out of your research time.
Class 2: Organizing Your Files
Presented by Rhonda R. McClure
In researching your family history, you quickly become inundated with physical copies, email and other electronic files, handwritten notes, photographs, research logs, and more. Senior Genealogist Rhonda R. McClure will discuss various systems on how to organize your files, so you can easily return to your work, find what you need on a particular person or family, and not duplicate your efforts.
Class 3: Organizing Your Findings
Presented by Melanie McComb
This final class will provide tools for organizing your findings to help you interpret your results, see patterns, and come to sound conclusions. In addition to tools for understanding your results, Genealogist Melanie McComb will discuss how to compile a proof argument that organizes sometimes disparate findings into an easy-to-follow solution.
COURSE HANDOUTS
Class 1 Handout
Class 1 Slides Worksheet
Class 1 Slides (Large)
Class 2 Handout
Class 2 Slides Worksheet
OTHER RESOURCES
Research Guide: Getting Organized
Annotated Research Log (.xlsx)
Probate Abstraction Form
Land Abstraction Form
Deed Index Survey
FAN Club Spreadsheet (.xlsx)
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Class 1: Organizing Your Research
Class 2: Organizing Your Files
Class 3: Organizing Your Findings
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Ann G. Lawthers, Genealogist helps members and not-yet members with their family history research by providing lectures, courses, and hands-on workshops at the American Ancestors Research Center, at genealogical conferences across the country, and online. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Harvard School of Public Health, with Masters and Doctoral degrees in Health Policy. Her areas of particular interest include New England and New York, the Mid-Atlantic states, the southern colonies, Ireland, and migration patterns.
Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer. Before joining American Ancestors in 2006, she ran her own genealogical business for 18 years. She was a contributing editor for Heritage Quest Magazine, Biography magazine, and was a contributor to The History Channel Magazine and American History Magazine. In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of twelve books including the award-winning The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Online Genealogy, Finding your Famous and Infamous Ancestors and Digitizing Your Family History. She is the editor of the newly released 6th edition of the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research. Her areas of expertise include, immigration and naturalization, late 19th- and early 20th-century urban research, missionaries, State Department Federal records, New England, Mid-West, Southern, German, Italian, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and New Brunswick research as well as Internet research, genealogical software and online trees.
Melanie McComb, Genealogist assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She also provides lectures on a variety of genealogical topics. Melanie holds a bachelor of science degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. Her areas of research interest include Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Kansas, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Ireland, and she is experienced in DNA, genealogical technology and social media, Jewish genealogy, and military records.