Skip to main content

Researching Your French-Canadian Ancestors 2019

  

|  Schedule |  Recorded Presentations & Videos |  Instructor Bio |

 

Map of Quebec 1763WELCOME!

Thank you for registering for the online course, Researching Your French-Canadian Ancestors!

For researchers with French-Canadian ancestors, there is a wealth of resources available in both Canada and the United States. French-Canadian genealogy, however, is not without its quirks. Shifting boundaries, “dit” names, notarial records, and the language barrier are just some of the challenges you may face. Join genealogist Rhonda R. McClure to learn how to locate and use essential resources, analyze records, and maximize searches to discover your family’s past in both Canada and France. This five-week online course will focus on resources pertaining to the province of Quebec. 

This course includes five 90-minute classes; exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation; and in-depth q&a sessions with the instructor.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Return to this page often for additional resources! 

Course Activity Dates of Access Description
Class #1
Class #1: Online presentation (live!) 7/31/2019, 6:00 PM eastern time Getting Started  
In this class we will look at U.S. and Canadian records that assist in identifying origins in French Canada and explore migratory patterns between the two countries. 
Video of Class #1 starting 8/1/2019 Watch the first class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants.
Class #2
Class #2: Online presentation (live!) 8/7/2019, 6:00 PM eastern time

Church Records & Resources 
This class will examine the Drouin collection and associated indexes, how Dit names can affect a person in the records, and how to understand records in French. 

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 #2 starting 8/8/2019  Watch the second class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants.
Class #3
Class #3: Online presentation (live!) 8/14/2019, 6:00 PM eastern time

Notarial Records, Part I  
Rhonda will provide an in-depth look at these critical records including the process of identifying the proper notary and how to use Parchemin and other resources. 

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 starting 8/15/2019 Watch the third class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants.
Class #4
Class #4: Online presentation (live!) 8/21/2019, 6:00 PM eastern time Notarial Records, Part II  
We will work directly with the records created by notaries and provide methods for transcribing and translation. 
Video of Class #4 starting 8/22/2019 Watch the fourth class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants.
Class #5
Class #5: Online presentation (live!) 8/28/2019, 6:00 PM eastern time

French Origins 
In this final class we will look at resources such as engagements that brought many of the men to Nouvelle France in the 1600s along with online church and archival resources to assist in finding where in France they came from. 

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 starting 8/29/2019  Watch the final class presentation. Available exclusively to course participants.

 

RECORDED PRESENTATIONS & VIDEOS

Class 1: Getting Started
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure  
Running Time: 1:24:21  
Live Broadcast: July 31, 2019  

In this class we will look at U.S. and Canadian records that assist in identifying origins in French Canada and explore migratory patterns between the two countries.

Class 2: Church Records & Resources
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure  
Running Time: 1:31:08  
Live Broadcast: August 7, 2019  

This class will examine the Drouin collection and associated indexes, how Dit names can affect a person in the records, and how to understand records in French.

Class 3: Working in Notarial Records, Part I
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure  
Running Time: 1:24:55  
Live Broadcast: August 14, 2019  

Rhonda will provide an in-depth look at these critical records including the process of identifying the proper notary and how to use Parchemin and other resources.

Class 4: Working in Notarial Records, Part II
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure  
Running Time: 1:23:46  
Live Broadcast: August 21, 2019  

We will work directly with the records created by notaries and provide methods for transcribing and translation.

Class 5: French Origins
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure  
Running Time: 1:31:37  
Live Broadcast: August 28, 2019  

In this final class we will look at resources such as engagements that brought many of the men to Nouvelle France in the 1600s along with online church and archival resources to assist in finding where in France they came from.

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist s a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer specializing in New England and celebrity research as well as computerized genealogy; is compiler of more than 120 celebrity family trees; has been a contributing editor for Heritage Quest MagazineBiography magazine and was a contributor to The History Channel Magazine and American History Magazine. In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of ten books, including the award-winning The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy, now in its second edition, Finding Your Famous and Infamous Ancestors, and Digitizing Your Family History.  

Her areas of expertise include immigration and naturalization, late 19th and early 20th century urban research, missionaries (primarily in association with the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions), New England, Mid-West, Southern, German, Italian, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and New Brunswick research as well as Internet research, genealogical software (FTM, RootsMagic, TMG, Reunion), digital peripherals, and uses both Mac and Windows machines.

COURSE HANDOUTS

Class 1 Handout
Class 1 Slides Worksheet
Class 1 Slides (large)
Class 1 Homework
Class 1 Homework Answers
Class 2 Handout
Class 2 Slides Worksheet
Class 2 Slides (large)
Class 2 Homework
Class 2 Homework Answers
Class 2 Homework Translations
Class 3 Handout
Class 3 Slides Worksheet
Class 3 Slides (large)
Class 3 Homework
Class 3 Homework Answers
Class 4 Handout
Class 4 Slides Worksheet
Class 4 Slides (large)
Class 4 Homework
Class 4 Homework Answers
Class 5 Handout
Class 5 Slides Worksheet
Class 5 Slides (large)
Class 5 Homework
Class 5 Homework Answers

RESOURCES

French Canadian Genealogy Subject Guide

Archived webinar: French Canadian Resources at American Ancestors

Common French-Canadian Surnames and dit names

Common Acadian surnames

French Word List

LaFortune's List of Notaries