Presentation Descriptions

Getting Started

  • I’m Just Getting Started, Where Do I Begin? – Just getting started?  Learn how to assess what you have and how to create a plan to continue your search for your ancestors.
  • Choosing your Genealogy Software – What should you consider when choosing a genealogy software program?  What options are out there?  This class will help attendees better understand what they want in a program and what their options are.
  • Growing Your Family Tree: On Your Computer and Online – There are so many choices about what software to use or where to post an online tree!  Learn what the value and limitations are from using only software or online options and what the benefits are to using them together.

General Topics – All Audiences

  • Including your Family in your Family History -This could be a grandparent/parent and child combined activity/workshop or could be presented as a talk to the adults about ideas to interest their family in family history.
    • WORKSHOP : Includes hands on and interactive activities such as reading documents, sharing stories, learning about history, etc. Some of the focus is on saving memories, and some is about creating memories. Introduction to genealogy sources is done through games and interaction between the adults and children.
    • PRESENTATION: Do your families eyes roll as you share your genealogy discoveries? We as genealogists and family history researchers need to find ways to share our findings with our families that will hopefully get them interested in what we are doing. This may be include sharing stories, creating small games with family photos, focused and short research trips and more.
  • Using GPS. Destination: Confident Research Results – Have I done enough research? Do I have the right John? Is my research ready to share? Learn about the five components of the Genealogy Proof Standard (GPS) and how they will navigate you to arrive with confidence in your research results.
  • Pursuing Death Records Beyond the Headstone – There are many more records that are created when a person dies.  They may have a lot more information included beyond just the date of death and they may help you learn more about your ancestor.
  • Newspaper Research – Researching the Headlines and More – Newspapers contain information about the lives of our ancestors. Beyond information about their death, they can tell us about the town, current events, and other things that would have been important to them and that can assist us in learning more about them too.
  • Planning a Research Trip to the Family History Library in SLC – Ever arrive somewhere and realize you have too little time and too much to do? Learn tips of what to bring and how to prepare to make the best use of your time while at the FHC Library.  Many tips would be applicable to any research facility.
  • Oral Histories: Interviewing Your Relatives – Gathering genealogy facts from family members is different than gathering their oral histories. Interviewing your family members requires special preparation, but it can yield wonderful and priceless results. This includes some class participation and practice.

Internet Sites

  • Using the Power of Google in Your Genealogy Research – Google can be used for more than searching for your ancestor’s name.  Learn some tips and tricks to make your genealogy Google searches powerful.
  • Extra! Extra! Locating Online Newspapers – More and more newspapers are being digitized and are online.  Learn how to find them on free and subscription sites and the various types of information that newspapers can provide.
  • Genealogy and Social Networking – Learn the value of connecting with fellow genealogists online.  Find out the value in Facebook, Pinterest and other social networking sites that may help you in connecting with “cousins” or simply others you can help you translate a difficult record.
  • Facebook for Genealogists – Facebook has a growing number of resources to help you with your family history.  Some of these benefits are connecting with family, making connections with experts, getting questions answered about your software program and there are many more!

FamilySearch.org

  • Getting Started with FamilySearch.org – Get a tour of FamilySearch.org, a free website with a lot of valuable resources that is constantly expanding.
  • Mining for Treasures on FamilySearch.org – There are a lot of valuable resources on FamilySearch.org beyond just using the search boxes.  Learn more about browsing digitized records, using the Wiki, Catalog and other areas of the FamilySearch.org website.
  • FamilySearch.org: All About the Records – Learn about the central part of the FamilySearch website. Discover tips and tricks for locating and accessing the growing number of records on the site. There are various types of records shown, but there may be limitations to their availability. Access the wealth of records with confidence as you learn to use indexed records and those not yet indexed and the catalog.
  • FamilySearch.org – A Place of Learning – Beyond records, there are education opportunities within the FamilySearch website and offerings. Discover more about the FamilySearch Wiki, tutorials, webinars, help features, and their YouTube channel and how each can assist you in learning how to achieve your research goals.
  • FamilySearch.org: Introduction to the Family Tree – Your FamilySearch account provides you access to the Family Tree. Learn how to connect and add your family to the world tree and strengthen its’ branches. This can also be a good place to search for ancestors you may not have discovered yet. Basic tasks for adding information to the tree will be covered along with navigation of the Family Tree pedigree and profile views. There are also many apps that can use the Family Tree to assist you in analyzing the information available.
  • FamilySearch.org: Problem Solving within the Family Tree –  Have you ever had a typo or made a mistake in your genealogy. When we use paper and pencil family trees it is easy to correct. Online trees can be a little challenging. Learn how to find and correct common mistakes in the FamilySearch Family Tree and how to strengthen the tree to help prevent future mistakes in the future. (This is designed to be a follow up for the Introduction to the Family Tree. Or at least it assumes that the audience already understands the basics of how to use the Family Tree.)
  • FamilySearch.org: Using the “Memories” Feature to Preserve your History for the Future – Concerned about the future of your genealogy research? This presentation explains what features are available to preserve your stories, documents, photos and audio for many generations to come. 
  • Using FamilySearch.org for German Research. Dig Deep! – The FamilySearch home page just scratches the surface of what you can find. Grab your shovels and learn how to dig deep to find treasures of information from this free resource.

Ethnic Research

  • Clues to Finding Your Immigrant’s Town of Origin – Finding your Immigrant’s town of origin is often the key to locating records “across the pond.”  These clues are true for any immigrant of any nationality.
  • Beginning German Research: Reading Church Records when you don’t know German – With some helpful guides and books you can learn to read German church records even if you cannot read or speak the language.  Church records are an essential part of German research and you will find them in the United States as well.
  • German Roots? 4 Steps to Build Up Your German Research Skills – Beginning German research can be challenging. Come learn about four steps that will provide a solid foundation and confidence in building your skills in tracing your German ancestry.
  • Using FamilySearch.org for German Research. Dig Deep! – The FamilySearch home page just scratches the surface of what you can find. Grab your shovels and learn how to dig deep to find treasures of information from this free resource. (This could be adapted to most nationalities or to include several nationalities within the presentation.)
  • Beginning Norwegian Research:  This will go over the basics of Norwegian research. With a location and some basic Norwegian terms you can yield great results when researching your Norwegian ancestors. The FamilySearch.org Wiki can provide some education that will be useful in your research. This will prepare you for using the Norwegian Archives (Digitalarkivet.no) has records online that are free for everyone to access. Come learn how to use this valuable resource that includes many digitized parish records. This valuable resource takes some practice but can yield great results when researching your Norwegian ancestors.

Coming Soon!

  • Resources in Public Libraries for Family History Research – When doing genealogy research we often focus on State Archives, Courthouses, Historical Societies, etc. But have you checked out the resources available in public libraries?
  • Using Trello to Organize Your Genealogy Projects – Is your desk, monitor or white board full of reminder notes? Do you need more than one note for a task? Trello is a project management tool that is located online and can be using in a variety of ways. It can help you visually view your progress, records found, results, etc. and you can share it with others.