LECTURE TOPICS

Getting Started: Genealogy for Beginners

This lecture introduces beginner genealogists to records, resources and research methodology.

Find Your Long Lost Cousins: Descendant Tracing

Take a break from researching backwards in your family tree and start something new - descendant tracing.  Learn how to trace the other descendants of an ancestor - outside of your direct line - to locate living cousins.  This lecture focuses on the value of researching forward in your family tree and introduces the resources and types of records useful for this increasingly popular type of research.

Researching Your New Jersey Ancestors

New Jersey plays an important role in American history and in genealogy.  Early immigration brought English colonists to New England and years later, a wave of European immigration hit New York City.  Many of these immigrants eventually settled in New Jersey - some remaining there for generations and some dispersing quickly.  Learn how to effectively research New Jersey ancestors using various repositories as well as online resources and lesser-used record sets.

A Case Study: Horace Condit Johnson, Jr. (1884-1965)

A case study for beginner and intermediate genealogists that demonstrates the various genealogical records available and the value in locating as many of these records as possible.  Going through the interesting and eventful life of Horace Condit Johnson, Jr., this case study touches on birth, marriage and death records; divorce, business, criminal, census, court, adoption and social security records; photographs, obituaries and more.

British Genealogy: Searching from Across the Ocean

Learn how to research your British ancestors without visiting the UK.  This lecture focuses on the wealth of information available on the Internet for those researching British ancestry, including vital records, immigration/emigration, military records, wills, criminal records and records of The National Archives.

New York City Research

American immigration peaked between 1892 and 1924, with most immigrants coming to the United States through New York.  It is estimated that 40% of Americans alive today (that’s 150 million people!) have an ancestor who came to the United States through Ellis Island. Genealogists across the country and internationally are tracing their roots back to New York City.  Learn how to research effectively using online resources as well as repositories in New York City and across the country.  The lecture focuses on record sets created by the immigrant population and their descendants.

Ready, Set, Go!  Writing and Publishing Your Family History

You’ve spent years researching – now what?  Learn how to preserve your hard work for future generations by writing an interesting and compelling family history narrative and publishing your work.

Research Beyond the Death Certificate

The death of an ancestor can trigger the creation of many different records, all of which can provide valuable genealogical information on the deceased, as well as their ancestors and descendants.  Learn about how to use funeral home, cemetery, family, probate, bible, church, social security, court and land records, as well as mortality schedules, coroners inquests, headstones, newspapers and pensions, to uncover additional clues about your family.

Genealogy and Social Networking

Years ago, the Internet changed the genealogy world and now, so has social networking.  Learn how to use the latest tools to get help with your research, help others with their research, connect with family members and learn new and useful information about genealogical records and resources.

Using Mac for Genealogy

Learn why you should use a Mac for genealogy!  Explore the use of Mac-compatible genealogy software, Apple devices such as the iPhone and iPad, various programs for genealogists, social networking, cloud computing, and more.