Please note: Class locations and topics are subject to change. An updated schedule will be available at the registration desk when you arrive at the conference.
Friday, November 3, 2017
3:00pm – 6:00pm
- Ask an Expert
↓ View Class DescriptionAt the Family History Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (3001 S. Apopka Vineland Rd, Orlando FL 32835 – across from the white Mormon Temple). Here is your opportunity to sit down one-on-one and discuss your particular situation with a family history expert: Jim Green, Dan Poffenberger, Todd Knowles, Dr. James Baker, Maureen Brady, Julie Stoddard, Margo Feriss Brewer, or Ann Staley. Discussions are 15 minutes each and first come, first served. Sign up for your Ask an Expert on the registration page. ↑ Hide this description.Saturday, November 4, 2017
9:00am – 9:15am
- Welcome and Introduction of Teachers
9:20am – 9:50am – Keynote Speaker: Crista Cowan
- Behind the Scenes of the Ancestry Research Team
↓ View Class DescriptionGet a behind the scenes look from The Barefoot Genealogist at what goes into genealogy research for television shows like “Who Do You Think You Are?” and “Long Lost Family” and media campaigns like “Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.” ↑ Hide this description.10:00am – 10:55am
- Basic Beginning Genealogy: Where Do I Start?
Betty Jo Stockton
↓ View Class DescriptionThis is the best class for beginners who want to learn how to do family history (genealogy). Learn the basics including where to find needed information, how to record it, as well as some wonderful tips on making your family tree come alive with ancestors you didn’t know existed! You’ll receive free charts, forms, and guidelines to make you eager to get started! ↑ Hide this description.- A Non-Technical Discussion of How to Get Started with DNA and Its Capabilities
Dr. James Baker
↓ View Class Descriptionhis presentation offers a non-technical description of the basic DNA tests and their most effective uses. Case studies are used to show the genealogical value of each of the three major types of tests (y-male line; mitochondrial-female; and autosomal tests). Class members will learn which test is best for each of them and how to get started efficiently with the world of DNA testing. ↑ Hide this description.- Great Grand-daddy, Is That Really You? How to Avoid “Same Name-itis”
Jack Butler
↓ View Class DescriptionThere are three John Andersons in the county where you think your ancestor lived. How can you be sure which, if any, are your ancestors? Then there are name changes, usage of middle names, or even nicknames. Are these your ancestors? This presentation provides methods and tips to help determine if you are actually seeing your ancestor in the records you are researching. ↑ Hide this description.- Burned Courthouses and Flooded Churches: Finding Ancestors when Records Are Lost
Jeff Haines
↓ View Class DescriptionMajor record losses need not deter a determined genealogist! Discover strategies for working around missing documents to solve family puzzles. ↑ Hide this description.- What’s New and What’s Coming with FamilySearch
Jim Greene
↓ View Class DescriptionOne of the advantages of having a FREE online program is that it is easy to continually correct and improve. This class will cover the updates, additions, and cool new features since the last time we met! Even those who don’t like change will want to see this and it may even change their minds! ↑ Hide this description.- Find My Past – A Hidden Gem for British Research
Dan Poffenberger
↓ View Class Description(Beginner Level). FindMyPast has over 4 billion records to explore including some of the largest online collections of Irish records and UK parish records. They do have the most comprehensive collection of British military records online and over 11 million digitized newspaper pages. This class will explore the most critical databases as well as the capabilities of their unique search engine. ↑ Hide this description.- So You Can’t Read a Foreign Language? Deciphering Vital Records: Tips and Techniques
Ann Staley
↓ View Class DescriptionSooner or later, a researcher will be facing a vital record in a foreign language. Treating the language as a barrier or “brick wall” will only frustrate them further. This presentation will use vital records in various languages to demonstrate ways to decipher them and provide resources, tips, and techniques to make a foreign language “brick wall” a little smaller. ↑ Hide this description.- Your Catholic Ancestors
Debra Fleming
↓ View Class DescriptionEveryone knows that Catholics left records, but not many people know WHY there are so many records for sacraments. We explore what the sacraments are and their importance. We also explore their belief system in a historical context, like how often would your ancestor attend church. Or what was the mass like for your ancestor? Finally, we explore how to access the records and how to decipher them. ↑ Hide this description.- My Grandchildren Aren’t Interested in Their Ancestors! Ideas for Competing With Videos & Super Heroes
Margo Fariss Brewer
↓ View Class DescriptionYou want your grandchildren or children to be interested in your passion and their ancestors, but how do you compete against iPhones, video games, texting, and super heroes? There are games, projects, and research that will use the electronic skills they already and before they know it they are hooked. ↑ Hide this description.- Raising the Dead
Patricia Charpentier
↓ View Class DescriptionThis informative and fun presentation focuses on different methods of preserving family history and how to take ancestral facts—names, places and dates—and turn them into interesting and enjoyable stories without fictionalizing the material. We’ll discuss different ways to look at historical data with an eye for story. Then, I’ll give you five great tips on how to get started. ↑ Hide this description.- Newspaper Research
Maureen Brady
↓ View Class DescriptionLocal newspapers provided our ancestors with “all the news that’s fit to print”. This presentation will review the major websites offering access to historical newspapers and search strategies for finding those nuggets of information which can break down brick walls or add color to our ancestors’ lives. ↑ Hide this description.- Family History Roadshow
Crista Cowen (Ancestry), Denise Sivek (Ancestry and FamilySearch), Todd Knowles (Immigration, Jewish, and more!), Julie Stoddard (all-knowing…well, she knows a lot!)
↓ View Class DescriptionAsk the Experts! One-on One! Check out their biographies and then make a 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! Then, at your appointed time, meet them in the Titan Café at the back of the cafeteria. ↑ Hide this description.11:05am – 12:00pm
- Which Records to Search When Researching a New Person?
Julie Stoddard
↓ View Class DescriptionWith so many records available online, when you focus your research on a new person or family, which records should you search first? This class will focus on prioritizing which records will help you achieve the best results in U.S. Research. ↑ Hide this description.- Using Your Ancestry DNA Results to Make New Family Discoveries
Crista Cowan
↓ View Class DescriptionYou took an AncestryDNA test. Now, how do you use all of those cousin matches to break through some of your genealogy brick walls? In this session, you will learn how to use the tools available (and get some tips on other processes) finding common ancestors among your matches. ↑ Hide this description.- I Thought He Was My Ancestor: Overcoming Six Common Genealogical Errors
Dr. James Baker
↓ View Class DescriptionThis class uses case studies to show how to avoid the most common genealogy mistakes: trusting in the “long-time proven” data; believing too strongly in family stories and myths; connecting improper “same-name” people erroneously; failing the reasonableness test; trusting the genealogy “snake-oil” salesmen; and believing too much in the original records. ↑ Hide this description.- Family Tree Around the World!
Jim Greene
↓ View Class DescriptionFamilySearch is designed to be the one place to freely store our genealogy and preserve our family history, stories, and images. This class discusses the unique challenges across the world and how FamilySearch is working to solve technology and other issues for everyone worldwide who feels the tug of their family’s past and present. We’ll discuss historical records from all over the world and how FamilySearch is working to obtain digital copies and in what priority. ↑ Hide this description.- Introduction to WikiTree: A Tool for Collaboration and Sharing
Jeff Haines
↓ View Class DescriptionWikiTree is an online collaborative family tree that offers many tools for collaborating on surname, geographic, and DNA projects. Come discover how it can help you! ↑ Hide this description.- Research – Working Around the Edges!
Jack Butler
↓ View Class DescriptionThere are many records and techniques that routinely get overlooked – especially by newer genealogists – in our search for our ancestors. Tax records, school records, manuscript collections, special collections, letters and diaries, and many other such records might hide the gate that you need to get through your brick wall. This presentation addresses these records and where to find them. ↑ Hide this description.- Social Networking + Genealogy = What? Great Success!
Debra Fleming
↓ View Class DescriptionThe Internet is full of opportunities for searching our ancestors. Using social media can be a wonderful way to track family, plan reunions, and share our findings! Live audience participation is essential to this topic! ↑ Hide this description.- Using Non-Conformist Church Records
Todd Knowles
↓ View Class DescriptionCatholicism was the main religion in England until 1534 when King Henry VIII severed all ties to the Pope in Rome, and then began the Church of England. Those who chose not to conform to the beliefs and teachings of the Church of England were considered nonconformists. In spite of centuries of persecution, they conducted their own ceremonies and kept their own records as much as allowed. Many of these nonconformist registers survive and are now available online. This class will help you find those records. ↑ Hide this description.- “Mournful Exodus” – Finding Your Irish Ancestor’s Homes (Beginner Level )
Dan Poffenberger
↓ View Class DescriptionIreland’s population reached its historical peak in the 1840s at about 8.5 million people. Because of the Irish Potato Famine and more opportunity elsewhere, it is estimated that by 1890, 40% of Irish-born people were living abroad. Roughly 36 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. This class will use a case study to cover the basic research strategies necessary to finding the ancestral home of your Irish ancestor. Each strategy has a “Learn More” activity that you can use at home to learn more and build your skills. ↑ Hide this description.- Your Journey Story
Patricia Charpentier
↓ View Class DescriptionA journey story…one of the most popular approaches to writing family history. Learn to combine your genealogical adventures and experiences with research obtained into an interesting family history story. Write yourself into the story and take your readers along as you master the microfilm machine, hit the brick walls, and revel in finds as you come to know those who have gone before you. ↑ Hide this description.- Researching Canadian Records: The Big Three Websites
Maureen Brady
↓ View Class DescriptionOur neighbor to the north was often the “gateway” for U. S. bound immigrants or families who may have lived in Canada for a generation or two before continuing on to the U. S. This presentation will examine the Canadian resources at FamilySearch, Ancestry, and Library Archives Canada and it will also include search strategies for each site. ↑ Hide this description.- The Everyday Life of Our Ancestors
C. Ann Staley
↓ View Class DescriptionOur ancestors lived lives between those dashes on their gravestone. Resources abound for putting our ancestors into historical context and adding the personal details. We will examine various aspects of life and provide resources to discover the historical context and personal details. A case study will be provided. ↑ Hide this description.- Family History Roadshow
Paul Sivek (Expert Consultant), Dr. James Baker (DNA and more!), Jeff Haines (Expert Consultant and Florida Genealogy)
↓ View Class DescriptionAsk the Experts! One-on One! Check out their biographies and then make a 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! Then, at the appointed time, come to the Titan Café at the back of the cafeteria to meet with your assigned person! ↑ Hide this description.12:00pm – 12:45pm
- Lunch
12:45pm – 1:40pm
- Google for Twentieth Century Genealogists
Debra Fleming
↓ View Class DescriptionGoogle is one of the biggest tools that genealogists can use for finding those elusive ancestors. Using specific tools within Google and specific search parameters, we can use “not-so-secret” skills for filtering results. We cover searching in books, blogs, images, maps, scholarly papers, and patent reports. Requires an in-depth audience participation! ↑ Hide this description.- Swedish Research
Maureen Brady
↓ View Class DescriptionSwedish church records provide a rich resource for identifying your Swedish ancestors. This presentation will provide an overview of research strategies for Sweden including a brief historical overview, naming patterns and customs, finding the Swedish parish, and online resources. ↑ Hide this description.- Burned County Records: There’s Still Hope!
Julie Stoddard
↓ View Class Description“Burned County” is a common research term used for counties with record losses due to natural disasters and other causes. These record losses are a large hurdle for genealogists, but with an understanding of which methods to use and substitute records, alternative information can be found to document your family. ↑ Hide this description.- A Quick Peek at Military Service: The Colonial Wars to WWII
Margo Fariss Brewer
↓ View Class DescriptionWhat are military records? What kind of information do they contain and how do you find them? Learn ways to discover the invaluable information they contain. ↑ Hide this description.- Getting Started with Jewish Research – The Basics
Todd Knowles
↓ View Class DescriptionIn order to have the best results as you begin your family research, a general understanding of the background of the records is essential. In this class, we will talk about the different types of Jews and the records they left. Hopefully, this will give us a higher possibility of locating out families. ↑ Hide this description.- Before They Were States… Finding and Using Territorial Records
Jack Butler
↓ View Class DescriptionThe Treaties ending and settling the Revolutionary War insured that the United States was born owning territory outside the original thirteen states and our ancestors were eager to rush into them in order to gain cheap, or sometimes free, access to the newly-opened lands. Territorial records are those records generated by our ancestors during the organization and settling of those 32 territories held by the U. S. prior to their eventually achieving statehood. This presentation discusses the kinds of records created by our ancestors during these territorial periods and where to find them. ↑ Hide this description.- Write the Life Story, of Someone You Never Met, With FamilySearch Memories
Jim Greene
↓ View Class DescriptionWhen my parents died I inherited a box belonging to my Great Aunt. This class will present a live case study and workshop, using photos, letters, and other documents from that box. The end result will be her life story, online, for all her relatives to see! ↑ Hide this description.- Native American Research
Judge Larry Kirkwood
↓ View Class DescriptionMany families have “Native American ancestor stories” in their oral histories. But are they true? Learn to determine the truth by using standard research methods and techniques unique to Native American research. Finding historical events that occurred, learning about the wars, the governments, the laws of our land, and the religious ideas of the time will help you to research. ↑ Hide this description.- Organizing, Analyzing, and Sharing: Using Technology to Your Advantage
C. Ann Staley
↓ View Class DescriptionAs researchers we gather all sorts of information, but once we have it what do we do with it? How can our findings be analyzed to tell us what we need – and where to find it? How can we tell what we don’t have and need to find? And now that I have all this family data, how can I share it with other family members? Put technology to work for you with software applications that can be used to analyze, organize, and share your genealogical data. ↑ Hide this description.- Don’t Make Your Descendants Research You
Patricia Charpentier
↓ View Class DescriptionAs genealogists, many of us focus our time and energy researching and writing about our ancestors and neglect to record our own lives. Be inspired and guided in writing your life story in this hands-on workshop that helps you leave your descendants a great gift. ↑ Hide this description.- Getting the Most Out of Ancestry
Crista Cowan
↓ View Class DescriptionAre you getting the most out of your Ancestry subscription? Even if you don’t have a subscription, are you aware there are many things you can access for free? In this session, we will cover several major tools available on the Ancestry website and show you some of our favorites for advancing your family history research. ↑ Hide this description.- Family History Roadshow
Dan Poffenberger,
Dr. James Baker, Family History Consultant TBA
↓ View Class DescriptionAsk the Experts! One-on One! Check out their biographies and then make a 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! Then, at the appointed time, come to the Titan Café at the back of the cafeteria to meet with your assigned person! ↑ Hide this description.1:50pm – 2:45pm
- Hit the Dirt: Placing Your Ancestors in Geographical Context
Jeff Haines
↓ View Class DescriptionYou can’t find ancestors if you don’t know where to look. Explore strategies to put your family on the map. ↑ Hide this description.- Say What? Reading Old English Handwriting Workshop – Beginner Level
Dan Poffenberger
↓ View Class DescriptionThis is a workshop, so don’t come to this class expecting to sit back and watch. Come prepared to learn and practice your Old English handwriting skills. In the old days, a genealogical researcher would slowly work his way back through generations of records and become accustomed to older handwriting styles. However, because of digitization and because cursive handwriting is not being taught in schools much anymore, you may be finding hard to read records more easily than ever. You will be supplied with tools to help you read the old documents that are now easier than ever to find. We will go through some practice documents so that you can leave the class with confidence in being able to read English records from the 1700s, 1600s and maybe even the 1500s! ↑ Hide this description.- Analyzing Your Research
Maureen Brady
↓ View Class DescriptionThe gates to many research “brick walls” may often be opened by a thorough analysis of the records. Using examples of typical research documents, this presentation will demonstrate how clues for further research are often found “between the lines”. We dare you to go the extra mile and discover how important it is to analyze your research. It will easily open new doors for you! ↑ Hide this description.- Going Beyond the Ancestry Shaky Leaf Hints
Crista Cowan
↓ View Class DescriptionAncestry has more than 20 billion historical records and adds an average of 2 million new records every single day. In this session, we will take you from being a search novice to being an expert searcher to being a true researcher. You will get a look at how best to navigate all those records to find the ONE record you need. ↑ Hide this description.- More Effective Searches on Ancestry and FamilySearch
Julie Stoddard
↓ View Class DescriptionWith the billions of records available online, learning effective search strategies becomes critical to finding the records available on our ancestors. Make your searches more efficient, with fewer results to browse, but higher success in finding the records. ↑ Hide this description.- Making the Most of FamilySearch for Jewish Research
Todd Knowles
↓ View Class DescriptionThis class will provide an opportunity for those with Jewish ancestry to learn some of the tricks that couple help them locate their families. ↑ Hide this description.- What’s New at the Orange County Genealogical Department 2017
Gregg Gronlund
↓ View Class DescriptionEvery year brings exciting new discoveries, additions to the collections, and more importantly, newer technologies to help you with your family history searches. Gregg will also discuss special new collections! ↑ Hide this description.- Local Support Groups for Free
Margo Fariss Brewer
↓ View Class DescriptionHaving trouble locating records on your ancestors? Nearby college/university and public libraries have FREE searchable collections and databases. Learn how to access these beneficial resources. ↑ Hide this description.- What are the Legal Issues that Confront Genealogists?
Judge Larry Kirkwood
↓ View Class DescriptionAs this former judge and genealogy expert (and former president of The Central Florida Genealogical Society) will attest, there are some legal issues you may want to know when researching. In this class, copyright law will be explained and demystified. There will be legal terminology clarified with aids to help in your research. Of interest is how the evolution of the rights of women have determined what records are available for females. There is also a general survey of legal issues that can slow down your research such as kinds of language, legal terms, types of research, where to research, the history of a laws development, searching for public records, the law library, copyright, and the legal access issues. ↑ Hide this description.- Heritage Quest: An Under-Utilized Resource
Debra Fleming
↓ View Class DescriptionThis is a how-to dissect the best and the worst aspects of Heritage Quest. This program is available to library patrons, so that you, the savvy researcher, can get the most out of it. Heritage Quest is under-utilized due to the competition of genealogical pay sites. Once you know how to use it, you can search the census, find Revolutionary War files, PERSI, the Freedman’s Bank, and U.S. Serial Sets. It’s a source that every genealogist should be using all of the time. ↑ Hide this description.- City Directories: A Line-by-Line Account of Our Ancestors
Ann Staley
↓ View Class Description“Let your fingers do the walking” through city directories to find family relationships, occupations, spouses, and other choice tidbits. The city directory can place a person in a particular place at a particular time and can group people by place of residency and/or by association with others. This presentation examines the city directories available to the researcher and how to locate and use them. A case study will be presented illustrating a research strategy. ↑ Hide this description.- Smashing Brick Walls with DNA Results: Finding Early Colonial Virginia and Pennsylvania People
Dr. James Baker
↓ View Class DescriptionThis presentation uses DNA results to solve genealogy puzzles for 5th and 6th generation ancestors. Case studies offer to “how-to” approach to merge FTDNA, Ancestry DNA, and GEDMATCH results effectively. Emphasis is placed on the merging of the genealogy paper trail data with DNA results. With a scarcity of available records in pre-West Virginia, DNA was likely the only way a certain genealogy puzzle could be solved. ↑ Hide this description.- Family History Roadshow
Jim Greene, 2 Family History Consultants TBA
↓ View Class DescriptionAsk the Experts! One-on One! Check out their biographies and then make a 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! Then, at the appointed time, come to the Titan Café at the back of the cafeteria to meet with your assigned person! ↑ Hide this description.2:55pm – 3:45pm
- Family Tree – The World’s Genealogy, Conquering Challenging Tasks
Jim Greene
↓ View Class DescriptionThis class will discuss FamilySearch Family Tree and give a broad overview of the design and purpose. We will then delve deeper into some challenging tasks,such as correcting relationships, merging, un-merging, restoring, how to separate lines that have been crossed, and how to work with others to change data. We will also talk about some of the new features designed to help keep the data correct. ↑ Hide this description.- A Dozen Resources You Should Be Using But Probably Aren’t
Jack Butler
↓ View Class DescriptionLike all humans, genealogists are creatures of habit. When we start researching a new family line or a new ancestor in a working line, we tend to fall into our habitual pattern. We run through our usual resources such as Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org, and maybe a few others. This presentation addresses resources that we all should use regularly, but which we probably don’t. Some are sources, and some are sites where you can find multiple sources! Come see! ↑ Hide this description.- Researching Family, Associates and Neighbors (FAN club) to Break Through Your Brick Walls
Julie Stoddard
↓ View Class DescriptionSome ancestors can’t be found in the typical genealogical records. This class will discuss using techniques, records, and indirect evidence with your ancestor’s FAN club to finally break through that brick wall. ↑ Hide this description.- GEDmatch: A Goldmine of Genetic Analysis Tools
Jeff Haines
↓ View Class DescriptionGEDmatch is a web-based service that is essential for almost all autosomal DNA projects. Learn about the available tools and how they can help you! ↑ Hide this description.- Put Some Meat on Dem Bones
Patricia Charpentier
↓ View Class DescriptionOur genealogical charts and family trees provide us with a wealth of information that tell us where we came from and who went before us. Those priceless details form a structure for our history, but how do we put some meat on dem bones? In this lively workshop, we examine many sources of information we can use to fill in the blanks and give depth and meaning to the facts. ↑ Hide this description.- The Peripatetic Germans: German Emigration and Immigration (1693-1914)
Dr. James Baker
↓ View Class DescriptionParticipants will learn methods of identifying German ancestors who immigrated to America in different time periods. Two major immigration waves are discussed, with the special features of each of them. Emphasis is placed on identifying the best genealogy records to use for different time periods and for different German areas. Online records are the main focus. ↑ Hide this description.- Continuing Your Genealogy Education at Home
Crista Cowan
↓ View Class DescriptionYou are attending a genealogy conference. That’s a great step in your genealogy education! But, did you know that there are thousands of hours of videos, podcasts, blog posts, and virtual society meetings you can access from home? In this session, we will cover many of the most useful options for you to continue your genealogy education once this weekend is over. ↑ Hide this description.- Websites for Tracing English Ancestry
Todd Knowles
↓ View Class DescriptionIn this class, we will show all types of English records and how to find them in an electronic era. ↑ Hide this description.- Finding the Fathers of Illegitimate Children in England – Advanced Level
Dan Poffenberger
↓ View Class DescriptionFirst of all, your ancestors did “do that”. It is virtually impossible to research an English pedigree without running into an ancestor who was born illegitimately. Finding the name of the father may be impossible but if it possible, this class will discuss the key sources and strategies. Whether you’re interested in solving such a problem, this class covers a wide variety of lesser used sources that will benefit any English research problem. Each part has a “Learn More” activity that you can use at home to learn more and build your skill. ↑ Hide this description.- Getting Down and Dirty with Land Records
Margo Fariss Brewer
↓ View Class DescriptionDon’t be afraid of land records; they can be your best friend. Learn what information is hidden within them. Much more than just land! ↑ Hide this description.- Enriching Your Family’s History Through Stories: 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Writing Your Life Story and How to Start
Cindy Hineman
↓ View Class DescriptionThis lecture is light, fun, and inspiring for all levels of family history researchers. People look to stories of others for guidance and reassurance; a way to ‘try on’ another person’s life, somewhat like you would try on a new dress or suit!! Content includes why writing your life story is good for your health, what do you need to begin the process, and how much to share!! Join this fun and rewarding class! ↑ Hide this description.- Family History Roadshow
Maureen Brady, Ann Staley, Debra Fleming, Family History Consultant TBA
↓ View Class DescriptionAsk the Experts! One-on One! Check out their biographies and then make a 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! Then, at the appointed time, come to the Titan Café at the back of the cafeteria to meet with your assigned person! ↑ Hide this description. - A Dozen Resources You Should Be Using But Probably Aren’t
- Say What? Reading Old English Handwriting Workshop – Beginner Level
- Swedish Research
- Using Your Ancestry DNA Results to Make New Family Discoveries
- A Non-Technical Discussion of How to Get Started with DNA and Its Capabilities
- Basic Beginning Genealogy: Where Do I Start?