Catalog of Lectures

When most family historians think about the census, we think of the population schedule—the enumeration of individuals living within a household. But there is so much more to the Federal Census that many researchers overlook! We will discuss how mortality, agriculture, manufacturing, business, and other social statistics schedules can be used in your genealogical research. We’ll review what data was collected for what years, how to access these non-population schedules, and how to leverage this information in your own family history.

In the 19th century, hundreds of towns and counties across the United States published biographical histories—or “mug books.” These can be valuable resources for family historians—providing a great deal of genealogical data and images—however, because the sketches are unsourced and arguably biased, the information should always be taken with a grain of salt. Join us to learn how to identify, access, evaluate, and use mug books responsibly.

The US Federal Census is often the go-to resource for family historians researching ancestors from the 19th and 20th centuries. To get the most out of this resource, it’s important to understand the record’s context, specific search tips, and shortcomings. Join us for an overview of the Federal Census and gain valuable search techniques for using this important resource.

Throughout its history, the United States has offered several land incentives to encourage settlement and migration westward. In this class, we will first discuss federal bounty land warrants for military service between 1775 and 1855 and then delve more deeply into homesteading records including land entry case files, patents, and tract books.  

Financial records can help fill in the timeline of your ancestor’s movements and explain motivations behind migrations. Deeds, pension, town, probate, tax, and employment records may exist when vital records do not. This class will demonstrate why financial records should be your go-to for tracing ancestors on the move, discuss what information is included in each, and where to find them. 

Land, Court, and Probate records contain key information that can connect generations, confirm family groups, provide vital data, and build the stories of your ancestors. This online seminar demonstrates how to get the most out of these important resources. This three-session seminar focuses on New England resources from the 17th century to present day, but many of the strategies and methods discussed can be applied to other regions of the country. 

Hit a brick wall in your research? Want to connect with distant relatives? Interested in sharing your research or DNA results with others? Learn how to leverage online communities, social media, and other online tools to advance your understanding of your ancestors and make connections with family and genealogists worldwide.

Why should you pay attention to your ancestor's occupation? Are you merely filling in the details of a life or looking for an essential clue to break down a brick wall? Each of our ancestors is unique however figuring out what makes them unique can be challenging. Finding your ancestor's occupation may help distinguish your Ebenezer Smith from other Ebenezer Smiths, particularly if your ancestors occupation was something other than farmer or laborer. This lecture helps you identify sources that reveal the occupation of your ancestor as well as helping you use that information to advance your family history research. 

This lecture will provide tools for organizing your findings to help you interpret genealogical results, see patterns, and come to sound conclusions. In addition to tools for understanding your results, we will discuss how to compile a proof argument that organizes sometimes disparate findings into an easy-to-follow solution. 

This lecture, suitable for beginners in Irish research, starts by having the Family Historian clarify what is being looked for and creating a plan for research. Next, an overview of Irish records is presented, followed by an identification of “Go-To” resources.