Thank you for registering for the online course, The Society of Friends: Research in Quaker Records!
Since the mid-seventeenth century Quakers settled in America and Canada; by 1750 Quakerism was the third largest religion in the British colonies. If you have colonial ancestry in America, there's a good chance there’s a Quaker in your family tree. Fortunately, record keeping was an important part of Quaker meetings. These records provide a wealth of information on its members including vital events, removals, disownings, and more. In this three-session online course, Senior Genealogist Rhonda R. McClure will provide a brief history of Quakerism and its beliefs in the United Kingdom, Canada, and America; discuss records and recordkeeping—what exists, what information is provided, and where to find these records; and offer strategies for piecing together the story of your Quaker ancestor.
COURSE TOPICS
Class 1: Quakerism: A Brief History, Beliefs, Persecution, and Legacy
This first class will provide the historical context for the origins of Quakerism in the United Kingdom and its subsequent spread across the United States and Canada during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. We will also discuss clues to identifying Quakers in your family tree.
Class 2: Quaker Records
Luckily, Quaker Meetings throughout history have been heavily documented. These records include genealogical information such as member lists, vital events, removals, punishments, and more. This class session will discuss what types of records exist, what information they contain, and how/where to access them. We'll also demonstrate how to identify your ancestor's meeting.
Class 3: Reading and Understanding Quaker Records
This final session will discuss how to read and understand Quaker records—navigating unique terminology, dating systems, and religious circumstances—wrapping up with a case study.
COURSE HANDOUTS
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Class 1: Quakerism: A Brief History, Beliefs, Persecution, and Legacy
Live broadcast: July 12, 2023
Running time: 1:44:33
Live broadcast: July 19, 2023
Running time: 1:56:40
Class 3: Reading and Understanding Quaker Records
Live broadcast: July 26, 2023
Running time: 1:43:59
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
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.
OTHER RESOURCES
Research Guide: Quaker Genealogy
Archived Webinar: Understanding Calendar Systems in Family History Research