Catalog of Lectures

Pennsylvania played a critical role in the formation of America and its principles of government. While the colony was at the center of a nation-making movement in the 18th century, it was also during this period that Pennsylvania saw several localized changes: the start of passenger lists and city directories; boundary shifts; westward expansion; greater record keeping around land, probate, court, military, taxes; and more. In this lecture we will look at tracing your ancestors during this pivotal period.

This lecture explores the history, people, and resources for 17th-century Pennsylvania genealogical research. From Pennsylvania’s Native population to the earliest European settlers (the Swedes and Dutch) to William Penn’s settlement of the royal colony as a haven for Quakers, you will learn about published resources, where to find primary record sources, and strategies for overcoming early research challenges.

Scottish census and census substitutes can provide important details about the immediate family of your ancestors. This lecture reviews what censuses exist, what information they provide, and where to access both transcriptions and digitized images.

Researching civil registrations and church records of births/baptisms, marriages, and deaths is often the first thing that family historians do when they learn they have ancestry in Scotland. In this lecture, our expert reviews what information is provided in each record type and how to locate and access these resources.
 

Many Americans and Canadians have Scottish ancestry. Determining exactly where in Scotland your ancestors came from, however, can be the hardest part of researching them. By understanding the history of Scotland and the many waves of emigration, you can start to narrow down possible origins. This first lecture reviews the many waves of Scottish immigration and the push-pull factors that led them to making their way to America.

Whether Ohio was a final destination for your ancestor or a stop along their journey west, published genealogical resources for the state and the Western Reserve are important for many family historians. In this webinar, our expert will share go-to Ohio-based resources within five categories: histories, genealogies, land, tax, and military. Learn about essential published sources that discuss family groups and help us to trace Ohio ancestors through time and place.

More than 400 years ago, the Mayflower landed on the shores of Massachusetts with 102 passengers aboard. Today, there are an estimated 35 million Mayflower descendants worldwide. In this lecture, our expert will discuss the foundations of researching your Mayflower ancestors, including key resources, verifying and documenting your line, applying to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, and more.

If your ancestor had the right to vote, you can find a wealth of information in their voting records. These records can help you to verify the exact years your ancestor lived in a certain location, locate your ancestor on a state census, identify when your ancestor was naturalized, and more. Join our expert as they discuss where to find voting records, the information they contain, and how to use them to advance your family history research.

More than 30 million Americans have Irish Ancestry, and many of us have ancestors who were affected by the Great Famine of 1845-1852. During this time, many relied on Ireland’s Poor Law Unions, which centered around a workhouse where people could labor to receive temporary relief from their poverty. The records produced by the Poor Law Unions can provide valuable information about your ancestors’ lives and rich historical context about the famine. Join our expert as they cover how to use these records in your Irish family history research.

When we first begin family history research or start work on a new line, we tend to be eager and excited. But that enthusiasm can cloud our thinking and fuel endless unproductive searching! In this lecture, our expert will share top tips for avoiding common “hazards” in your research process. They will also discuss how to develop a research plan, staying organized, analyzing your research, and more.