Catalog of Lectures

This program introduces the viewer to American Ancestors – New England Historic Genealogical Society (American Ancestors) - who we are, what we do, and how we can help you. With a focus on what is available to virtual viewers, this program talks about navigating our website, exploring our databases, finding subject guides, research templates and more. Our online accessible collections cover a wide range of genealogical records from the 17th to 21st century and span geographic locations from New England, the rest of the United States, as well as Canada and Europe. Our services include online courses, AncesTrees-our tree platform, online chat as well as Research for hire. Join this program to learn how American Ancestors can help you accomplish your genealogic goals. 

There are at least 44 million descendants of enslaved individuals alive today, but slavery separated families, erased names, and obscured facts. The 10 Million Names Project, recently launched by American Ancestors and its partners, aims to connect the family stories of these descendants to the 10 million men, women, and children of African descent who were enslaved in the U.S. prior to emancipation and to restore their names to history. Join us as we share the scope of this project, the objectives, and our methodology.

For anyone with 17th-century New England colonists in their family tree, the Great Migration study project is a go-to resource. Created and researched by Robert Charles Anderson, FASG, the series provides authoritative genealogical and biographical sketches for more than 20,000 individuals who immigrated to New England between 1620 and 1635, and detailed references for many more who immigrated between 1635 to 1640. Many of these sketches are available as searchable databases on AmericanAncestors.org. Join us to learn more about these important resources and how best to search the databases.

American Ancestors has one of the largest collections of genealogical papers in the United States. Learn how these unique items can benefit your genealogical research. We will provide research case studies and highlights from our special collections.

Breaking through the 1870 brick wall to discover more about ancestors prior to the end of slavery can prove challenging. Changing surnames, families ripped apart, and identifying the former enslaver are just a few roadblocks when researching enslaved families. This session will dive deep into creating a research strategy and organizing the records uncovered. We will also provide tips for making sense of all the information unearthed in the search and constructing a proof argument when records are limited. Best suited for those with intermediate-advanced genealogical skills.

Did you know that American Ancestors members can access databases published by other organizations for free? Discover external databases, an under-utilized yet invaluable resource for conducting your online family history research.

An American Ancestors DNA consultation can help you make the most of using DNA in your family history research! Have you taken a DNA test and need help deciphering results? Interested in learning techniques on breaking down one of your genealogical brick walls? Or maybe you want to learn about some of the many third-party tools available. This webinar will review our DNA consultation service and discuss the types of scenarios you may consult with an expert genealogist about, and we’ll also review a case study from one of our past clients.

In 1838, Georgetown College sold 272 persons to sugar plantation owners in Louisiana. This lecture will talk about the history of the enslaved persons included in this sale, the genealogies compiled on the families, and how you can find your connections to them.

The local church was a central part of our ancestors' lives. This lecture will explore how to use Roman Catholic church records to find out more about the story of your ancestor, including baptism records, marriage registers, death registers, and confirmation records. The Historic Catholic Records Online Project at American Ancestors will be highlighted in detail.

Researching African American ancestors can be challenging, especially when trying to break through the 1870 brick wall to discover more about ancestors prior to the end of slavery. In this presentation, we will discuss go-to records and demonstrate creative search strategies for piecing together your family history.