SB – Genealogy
Genealogy presentations by Sue Mueller, Genealogy SIG organizer, Computer Users of Erie, PA; teacher, monthly genealogy classes for the Erie County public library (now via Zoom)
Assuring Accuracy in Genealogy Research. documenting, sourcing work; backing up your data; sharing your research; should you use software?
Beginning Genealogy. Designed for the beginning genealogy researcher, this session will focus on free online resources for research. Topics include: How to begin and avoid mistakes; library resources across the country; free genealogy online websites and resources; plus a word about DNA and social media.
Census Records—More than you think. Explore federal and state census records; where to find and what you will find on the census; family and neighbor clues; linking census clues to other sources; other census schedules; census substitutes.
Death Records for Genealogy. Locating and using death indices, certificates, obituaries, cemeteries and beyond, with an emphasis on free online resources. Locating death records from official records to funeral homes and cemeteries.
DNA for Genealogy. What you can and cannot learn and why? Choosing your test: explore differences among testing companies. The importance of adding a tree to your results. Extending your results with GEDmatch.
Enhancing Your Genealogical Story with Social History. What is social history? Benefits of incorporating social history into your genealogy. What to look for, where to find social history resources.
Facebook for Genealogy. Connect with family. Establish a family group. Understand group privacy settings. Connect with a broad-range of genealogy-related groups. Connect with others to learn your family history story.
Family Tree Maker 2017 (genealogical software). Participants should have the software or be planning to purchase it, as the class will focus on using this genealogy software. Ideally, participants will bring a laptop with FTM 2017 installed. Creating a new tree; Uploading/downloading trees to/from ancestry; Entering data; Adding media files; Troubleshooting/fixing mistakes.
Finding Female Ancestors. Special challenges; how and where to search; using indirect proof; women and the law; military; immigration and naturalization
Finding and Using Historical Newspapers. Understanding digitized collections; free newspaper sources online; how to search; more than obituaries.
Finding, Dating, Identifying, Sharing Old Family Photos. Online resources for finding family photos. Use photo clues, such as hairstyles and fashions, as well as photo formats to date photos and identify those in the photos. Learn how to share your finds easily with family and friends.
Finding/Using Alternatives to Vital Records. Can’t find birth, marriage, and death records? What happens when your research predates vital records? Or when vital records are not readily available? Where to find and how to use newspapers, yearbooks, city directories, census clues, and church, tax, and military records, as well as court records.
Genealogy Focus 1880-1920. What’s new 1880 census? What happened to1890 census and what to substitute? Getting the most out of the 1900/1910 censuses. Historical events that impact your research: Spanish-American War, WWI, Flu epidemic, with special attention to researching your WWI veteran ancestors.
Genealogical Searches with Better Results. Understand how site searches and digitized collections work; it’s not only where you search, but how; expand family search and ancestry searches—both have more than you’re finding; library resources; searching books and newspapers; tips on how to improve your online search techniques.
Genealogy Sites. Ancestry and Familysearch – Getting the most out of two of the major genealogy websites: ancestry.com and familysearch.org. For ancestry: Learn how non-subscribers can benefit from using the ancestry index, free state resources, and windows of free access to limited collections. Learn more about getting the most out of your ancestry DNA test. Ancestry subscribers will learn how to take full advantage of all ancestry offers and what they’ve been missing. For family search: Learn how to go beyond a simple records search, how to search specific collections, and how to use the family search catalog. Understand the difference between an ancestry family tree and family search’s wiki trees. This class will also include some information about merging data into your computer-based genealogy program and syncing your Family Tree Maker or Roots Magic trees with ancestry. Participants will benefit by bringing their own laptops/tablets, but a laptop is not required to participate.
Genealogy Websites You’ve Been Missing. Enhance your genealogy research with this potpourri of free genealogy sites that you’ll wonder how you’ve missed. Genealogy Potpourri, out-of-the-box genealogy resources: useful websites that may not be on your radar: From finding county and family history books going beyond Cyndi’s list to using obituaries to find live people, learn about free sites that will enhance your genealogy research.
How to Get Started with Family History. Designed for true beginners ready to explore their family history, this session will focus on how to get started. Focus on your own family, gather records and pictures, and interview family. Software? Online tree? Names, place names, facts, stories. Plus a word about DNA and social media.
Immigration Records for Genealogy. Who came when; finding your immigrant ancestor’s origin; searching passenger lists; destinations—why and where; naturalization records.
Impact of History and Geography on Genealogy. Immigration and migration–what made your ancestors come/go? Changing state and county boundaries: Did your ancestors really move? Disease, epidemics, and your ancestors. The military and your ancestors.
Lineage Societies. What is a lineage society? Why join? Proof documents: what’s acceptable and what’s not. Useful websites for finding proof.
Military Records for Genealogy. Why, what, and where to find; Service records; Pension and land grant records; Extended strategies; Destroyed records.
Solving Genealogy Puzzles with Land Records. Where to find deeds and maps; What you’ll find; migration and neighbors; heirs and inferential data
The Frugal Genealogist. How to do genealogical research without breaking the bank! This class focuses on free resources that can be found on the internet by exploring county, city, and university libraries, free sites you may not know, using social media and connecting with relatives you’ve had trouble finding. Bring your own laptop if you want to try visiting some of these new genealogy sites
Wills, Probate, Estate, and Orphan Court/Guardianship Records. What they are; where to find them; what you can learn. Many of these valuable records are not indexed, but they are findable and browsable (just not searchable).