Family History Conference Schedule - Family History Conference

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.

Saturday, November 10, 2018

9:00am – 9:15am

Welcome and Introduction of Teachers

9:20am – 9:50am – Keynote Speaker: Crista Cowan

Storytelling and Ancestry.com
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Again this year, we are delighted to have a representative directly from Ancestry.com! For her keynote address, Ms. Cowan will discuss storytelling. All of us can find dates and places, but can you find information to write a story about each of your ancestors? Find ways in Ancestry.com to put flesh on the bones of your ancestors to create a fuller picture of their appearance, their family, their attitudes, their work, and how they overcame adversity. She will describe how to do this within the many facets of Ancestry.com. This website delivers the world’s largest online family history resource! ↑ Hide this description.

10:00am – 10:55am

Basic Beginning Genealogy: Where Do I Start? (Beginner Track)
Betty Jo Stockton
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This is one of two classes 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.
Dating and Identifying Family Photos
Elaine Hatfield Powell
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This class will teach you how to date a photo and will help you to determine who is in your unidentified photos. Elaine will illustrate several different resources, including your own genealogy documents, to show you how you can identify the people in your photo collection! Handouts are provided to help you identify your photos at home. Class attendees may bring photos to be dated or identified. ↑ Hide this description.
Getting Started with Your Jewish Research
Todd Knowles
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In 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.
Homespun and Calico: Researching the Lives of Our Foremothers
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen
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This lecture will give the genealogist some frequently overlooked sources concerning the women in our ancestry. Some case studies will be used to illustrate the research process. After all, half of the names on your pedigree chart belong to women. These female ancestors sometimes have little proof that they even existed. Let’s see what we can uncover as we discover new sources! ↑ Hide this description.
First Time on FamilySearch? The Basics on How to Begin
Jim Greene
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This class assumes you have never used FamilySearch, or at least never did more than kick the tires. It will give you a live overview and demonstrations of the most important features, and how to use them. You won’t leave an expert, but you will feel more comfortable. And who knows, you may find it is exactly what you were looking for, for you and your family history. ↑ Hide this description.
Cemeteries and Ancestors: Leave No Stone Unturned
Daniel Earl
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Would you believe that you can find some real treasures by personally visiting cemeteries? Or did you know that you can also read the headstones of many cemeteries online? Why? Because the information found on headstones can be fulfilling as well as surprising! Perhaps there is an adjacent tombstone that is a family member you had no idea existed? (For example, a child who died at birth or at an early age). Come to this class or send someone to take notes — you’ll be glad you did! ↑ Hide this description.
Intermediate Irish Research: Because There is No Such Thing as Beginning Irish Research
Dan Poffenberger
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Irish research has always been a challenge, especially with lost, burned, or missing records. Ironically, when you begin your Irish research, you have just cleared the first hurdle — motivation! From then on, expect to be an “intermediate” level researcher as you discover the myriad ways to find your Irish ancestors in every nook and cranny! You’ll really enjoy this class! ↑ Hide this description.
Our Quaker Ancestors: Their History and the Records They Left
Annette Burke Lyttle
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Quakers were among the earliest settlers on the east coast of North America and as they moved west, they were often the earliest settlers in newly-opened territory! Learn about the history of these pioneering Americans and the rich records they left behind. Fascinating! ↑ Hide this description.
RootsMagic: Publishing Your Family History with Complete Documentation
Bruce Buzbee
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Learn how to properly document your family history with the RootsMagic SourceWizard, build a full timeline of the events in each person’s life, and add stories and pictures to flesh out that timeline. Then discover how easy it is to create a complete book with cover and title pages, table of contents, index, footnotes, bibliography and more. You will even learn how to create CDs and online websites with your data and multimedia that you can share with family and friends. ↑ Hide this description.
Optimizing Your Internet Searches: It’s More than FamilySearch and Ancestry
Maureen Brady
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Learn how your online research can be “jump started”, or significantly expanded, by utilizing Cyndi’s List, Find My Past, Fold3, USGenWeb and other “broad coverage” websites. ↑ Hide this description.
Beyond Databases: How Technology is Changing Genealogy
Mark Fearer
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Come see how technology helps your online research (now including searches for DNA, crowdsourcing, online world trees, podcasts, YouTube videos, webinars). ↑ Hide this description.
Family History Roadshow
Crista Cowen, Jim Kamperschroer, Matt Herzog
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Have you reached a brick wall with one of your ancestors? Need help? Meet the Experts! One-on One! Make a FREE 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! ↑ Hide this description.

11:05am – 12:00pm

Are You a Beginner at Beginning Genealogy?! (Beginner Track)
Catherine (Casey) Zahn
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Researching your family history can be quite challenging if you don’t know where to look. You may have heard a story about your grandparents but aren’t certain how to discover the truth behind the story. The fun of researching your family is not just finding the documents, it’s the new stories that you uncover! Learn how easy it is to research your family in this class. ↑ Hide this description.
Introduction to My Heritage Software
Richard Eastman
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As seen on Fox News, NBC-TV, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, you have the opportunity to experience Family Tree Builder and download it for FREE! You’ll learn how to start a new family tree, upload a GEDCOM file, get automatic discoveries about your ancestors, and create beautiful family charts and custom reports! In 2015, it was voted as one of the 101 Best Websites!! Come see what all the excitement is about! ↑ Hide this description.
Intermediate FamilySearch, Learn and Ask
Jim Greene
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This class is designed for those who have used and are actively using FamilySearch. It will cover the importance of relationships in the Family Tree, how to merge and when it is appropriate to unmerge. What to do when a whole branch of your tree disappears. At least half of the class will be open for Q&A and looking at issues that you bring. ↑ Hide this description.
Getting the Most Out of Ancestry
Crista Cowan
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Ancestry.com is a multi-faceted website that has many proven and new features that you will be delighted with! Join Crista as she walks you through the features and benefits! You’ll need to take lots of notes! ↑ Hide this description.
Researching the Old-Line State: Maryland Research
Daniel Earl
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Discover more about your Maryland ancestors than you ever dreamed of! This is a unique class focusing on Maryland and its history, and the records and websites you can utilize to open doors to Maryland relatives long hidden! If you think there is even a tiny chance that some of your ancestors settled in Maryland, you have to come to this class! You’ll be glad you did! ↑ Hide this description.
England and Wales Census Records and Indexes 1841-1911
Todd Knowles
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The census is a head count of everyone in the country on a given day. A census has been taken in England and Wales, and separately for Scotland, every ten years since 1801, with the exception of 1941. The object of the census was not to obtain detailed information about individuals, but to provide information about the population as a whole; listing everyone by name, wherever they happened to be on a single night, was the most efficient way to count everybody once, and nobody twice. You’ll learn how to search by name, browse by place, or locate an exact page in a variety of different venues! Even if you have had missing or altered information, you’ll also learn tips for more successful searching! Awesome! ↑ Hide this description.
Plain Folk – Researching Amish and Mennonite Families
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen
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Amish and Mennonite families are often romanticized in modern literature and television series. However, their backgrounds, though similar, have beliefs that keep them separate. The Amish and the Mennonites are often grouped together. And, while they have some similarities, including their roots in religion, there are distinct differences. Come learn about those differences and see how you can find records for these wonderful ancestors! ↑ Hide this description.
Irish Tithe and Valuation
Dan Poffenberger
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The tithe was not a tax, but a charge upon land. The tithe system, which nominally earmarked one-tenth of the produce from the land for the sustainment of the clergy, was introduced to Ireland during the reign of Henry II, although it was not paid outside the area around Dublin until the reign of Elizabeth I. In Ireland, because the tithe system was used for the upkeep of the Established Church only, it caused a great deal of unrest among Roman Catholics and Presbyterians. The Tithe Appointment Books and Griffith’s Valuation are the two most important land surveys in Ireland for the nineteenth century. The later survey, Griffith’s Valuation is perhaps the most valuable as it is generally more comprehensive. There is a treasure trove of excellent information for any genealogical researcher of Ireland. ↑ Hide this description.
Miners, Lumbermen, Farmers, and More: Finding Your Michigan Roots
Annette Lyttle
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Michigan was settled by people from a wide variety of backgrounds, and if you have ancestors who lived in Michigan, there are a number of online and repository resources for finding the records they left. Come to this class and learn about their lives in the Wolverine State. Information is also applicable to other Midwestern areas. ↑ Hide this description.
African American Research
Mark Fearer
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Finally, here is some expert direction in finding African American relatives! ↑ Hide this description.
Family History Roadshow
Jim Kamperschroer, Charlie Miller, Family History Consultant TBA
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Have you reached a brick wall with one of your ancestors? Need help? Meet the Experts! One-on One! Make a FREE 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! ↑ Hide this description.

12:00pm – 12:45pm

Lunch

12:45pm – 1:40pm

Utilizing Social Media in Your Genealogical Research
Casey Zahn
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Many people are turning to different forms of Social Media to discover genealogical clues. Social Media includes Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat, and more!! (Your kids know!) How in the world do people access the information they are seeking? Come and learn how to use blogs, videos, and other types of social media to make new connections in your genealogical research! You’ll be so smart after being in this class! ↑ Hide this description.
Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor
Retired Judge Lawrence Kirkwood
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The United States is a nation of Immigrants. Finding your immigrant ancestors depends on how many generations you have to go back before you find the immigrant(s) in your family. Research techniques and record groups will reveal your ancestor(s).
DNA Don’t Lie – Three Types of DNA Tests
Elaine Powell
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A discussion of the three types of DNA testing is a must-see class if you are interested in this trending hot topic of Y-DNA, Mitochondrial DNA, and Autosomal DNA. She will illustrate how she has used both y-DNA and autosomal DNA results along with genealogical records to break down her own brick walls. Attendees will learn which tests they should and should not take, which companies are the best to test with and why, and what to do with the results when they are received. ↑ Hide this description.
Getting the Most Out of FamilySearch for Jewish Research
Todd Knowles
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Jewish records abound in FamilySearch.org! In order to have the best results, 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 right on this one website! ↑ Hide this description.
Using Ancestry Tools to Meet the Genealogical Proof Standard
Crista Cowan
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One of the most important parts of genealogical research is meeting the Genealogical Proof Standard. What is it? It is being able to correlate the facts along with explaining any conflicting evidence.Ancestry.com provides tools that make sure our date is the very best available. Once you learn how to do this careful analysis, you should successfully be able to arrive at solid conclusions about identity and relationship. ↑ Hide this description.
What Did You Do in the War, Granny? Women in the Army in World War II
Annette Burke Lyttle
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Over 150,000 women served in the Army in World War II. Women’s military service in this time period helped change expectations and perceptions about women’s role outside the home. Learn about their pioneering wartime service and how to find records for the women in your family who served. ↑ Hide this description.
Collaboration, More than Cooperation, It’s a Family Affair: Using FamilySearch’s Family Tree
Jim Greene
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For years genealogists have been lone wolves, searching and researching and piecing the puzzle together by themselves. Then the next generation may well be left to do it all over again because they did not know of the original work. On top of that, every time someone finds an original source they think they are the first to see it. Collaboration is the only way to stop this cycle of duplication and repetition. Learn how FamilySearch’s Family Tree works, and how you can leverage it with your extended family to get better information. As always, FamilySearch is FREE! ↑ Hide this description.
Apprentices, Indentured Servants and Redemptioners; White Servitude in America
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen
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An estimated one-half of early immigrants came to America as indentured servants. People came to the colonies by various means; some desired to come, and some came against their will. This lecture will examine indentureship in early America and will follow a case study of the story behind my own ancestors’ arrival. Note: This is by no means a comparison of indentureship and slavery. Though they may have worked alongside each other, and even ran away and married each other, their lives were vastly different. One had hope of a piece of land, and perhaps money and implement. The other had no hope at all; their service was perpetual. ↑ Hide this description.
When There’s a Will, There’s a Way: Locating English Probate Records
Dan Poffenberger
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Probate records (wills) are court records dealing with the distribution of a person’s estate after death. Information recorded may include the death date, names of heirs, family members, and guardians, relationships, residences, inventories of the estate (including trade and household goods), and names of witnesses. The English system historically has allowed a portion of a person’s property to be divisible by will or testament. In this class, you will learn how to find a will or probate document (England and Wales), 1858-present. Learn the three steps to locating probate records. Fascinating finds! ↑ Hide this description.
Research Plans and Logs
Mark Fearer
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Learn how to organize your research and increase your chances of success! Plus you’ll see that once you are organized, it will be much easier to add new details! ↑ Hide this description.
French-Canadian Research
Maureen Brady
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In this class, you are introduced to the French explorers who began arriving in North America in the early 17th Century and the record keepers who were not far behind. This presentation will include a brief review of the settlement of French North America and discuss the record sources, their availability, and the major websites for researching the Quebecois. ↑ Hide this description.
Family History Roadshow
Two Family History Consultants TBA
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Have you reached a brick wall with one of your ancestors? Need help? Meet the Experts! One-on One! Make a FREE 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! ↑ Hide this description.

1:50pm – 2:45pm

Courthouse Records: Beyond Basics
Retired Judge Lawrence Kirkwood
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How do Courthouse records help in your genealogy search beyond the basics? What are the types of Courthouse records you will find there? How can the Law Library add to your knowledge? Where are Courthouse Records and how do you access them? How do you interpret what you find? ↑ Hide this description.
Getting the Most Out of Your Ancestry DNA Results
Crista Cowan
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Good news! You have your DNA results back from Ancestry.com. You received two times more detail than many other DNA tests. You’ve discovered your ethnicity, but now comes the exciting part! This website has useful genealogical tools, provided you link your results to a family tree that you can build with help from historical records. Be prepared to learn a lot from your results! ↑ Hide this description.
RootsMagic: Your Home Base for Your Online Research
Bruce Buzbee
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It has never been easier to find and learn about your ancestors through Internet records and websites. But collecting and organizing that information can be challenging. RootsMagic genealogy and family tree software can be your “home base” for accessing all these different resources. Join us and learn how to use the RootsMagic to spot holes and problems in your family tree. See how to easily search online sites such as Ancestry, FamilySearch, Findmypast, MyHeritage, and more. You’ll also learn how to easily share your findings with others. ↑ Hide this description.
Funeral Homes and Family History: They Are Dying to Meet You!
Daniel Earl
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Most genealogists know to look in a cemetery to find their ancestors, but what about the funeral home? Funeral home records can provide loads of genealogically rich information. This presentation will teach participants what types of records are typically found in funeral homes, how to locate these resources online and “in the field”, as well as provide real life examples of how to search for ancillary clues in funeral home records. Participants will learn what types of genealogically relevant records that funeral homes can house. They will also learn where to locate funeral home records online and “in the field”. They will learn through real life examples how to find ancillary clues in funeral home records. Absolutely amazing!! ↑ Hide this description.
Advanced Techniques Working with My Heritage
Richard Eastman
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In this class, you’ll be delighted to discover their Advanced Family Tree software in which you can build a family tree visually, adding thousands of people quickly! It even supports over 40 languages! You also can have a free family site with detailed privacy settings just for your family. Even better, you can update your family tree on the go with their free mobile apps! Great class! ↑ Hide this description.
The Knowles Collection: What is it and how do I use it
Todd Knowles
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For over 40 years I have been searching for records of my great great grandfather, a Polish Jew. The search has led me to the records of many different archives and repositories in numerous countries. Now after 40 years of searching all those names have come together in 6 databases. Those databases are; The Jews of the British Isles, The Jews of Europe, The Jews of North America, The Jews of South America and Caribbean, The Jews of the Pacific Islands, and The Jews of Africa, Middle east and the Orient. The combined databases now hold the records of over 1.3 million people and is growing by about 15,000 names a month. In this presentation, we will learn how to use this collection, and how to access it. The Knowles Collection is free and available at Familysearch.org. ↑ Hide this description.
Creating A Family Heritage Album
Elaine Hatfield Powell
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The Heritage Album class teaches the importance of creating a Family Heritage Album. You will be given a step-by-step plan of action that will teach you everything you need to know to create your own family heritage album — both traditional and digital albums. You will learn how to include the photos, documents, genealogy, and memorabilia of your family, past and present. You will learn how to interview your family members, how to journal the family stories, and how to include genealogical charts in your album. ↑ Hide this description.
The Debris They Left Behind
Casey Zahn
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Did this ever happen to you? Someone in your family shows you or gives you something that belonged to someone in your family. It might have been a little drawing or a crocheted sweater. You know what I mean. Sometimes that object or story stirs your curiosity about that family member and you want to learn more about them or the object. In this class, you will learn how to enhance or add to your genealogical research through objects made by your ancestors and places/sources where they are held. ↑ Hide this description.
Family History Roadshow
Jim Greene, Two Family History Consultants TBA
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Have you reached a brick wall with one of your ancestors? Need help? Meet the Experts! One-on One! Make a FREE 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! ↑ Hide this description.

2:55pm – 3:45pm

Tips & Techniques For Researching in Archives, Courthouses, and Libraries
Elaine Hatfield Powell
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If you missed Judge Kirkwood’s presentation, you’re in luck! Elaine Powell has a dynamic presentation with valuable information! While doing research on her Colonial ancestors in Virginia, Elaine Powell discovered what to do and what not to do while researching. This program will help you to avoid mistakes and omissions while doing your own research in courthouses, archives, and libraries. You will learn techniques so that you can use your research time more efficiently and get tips for documenting your research properly so that it is acceptable for any lineage society. You will also hear techniques on how to be better prepared, what to do before leaving home, and what to bring on your future research trips! ↑ Hide this description.
The Jewish Communities of the Caribbean
Todd Knowles
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The early Jewish settlers in the countries of the Caribbean were mainly from European countries such as France, England and Amsterdam. In many cases they were also the first settlers into early American Jewish communities. To truly study our ancestors in America, one should study the Caribbean communities. This lecture will deal with those communities, their people and records, and how best to access those records. ↑ Hide this description.
FamilySearch Memories, People, not just Dates and Places
Jim Greene
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Facts tell us about people; photos and stories show us who they are. Combining the two things can help descendants learn about their legacy, and at the same time leave a legacy about ourselves. Come learn how to enter your family Memories, and how you can collaborate with your family to make them more complete and more powerful. In fact, with our modern tools, think how your legacy will last for years to your great grandchildren and beyond. How do you record today for tomorrow? Audio, pictures, documents – if it’s important to you, it will be to them. Come find out how to do it when you use FamilySearch Memories. And we will store it for you for generations to come! And remember, FamilySearch is always free! ↑ Hide this description.
I’ve Tested, Now What? Using DNA Match Lists to Solve Genealogical Problems
Dan Poffenberger
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You will use your DNA Match List to prove ancestral lines. This is an important class because some people have discovered that their father or grandfather or great-grandfather is not the expected person by seeing that there were no DNA matches on that branch of the tree. Since it is possible that no one else from that line has tested (probable with immigrants from less tested countries), it is always best to test another relative or two who should be a match on that line before reaching any conclusions. This is a fascinating new way to be more confident that the names you have found are the correct ones! Send someone to this class- it’s absolutely a necessity! ↑ Hide this description.
Finding Your Family’s Naturalization Papers
Catherine (Casey) Zahn
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Families came to the United States for a better life and the opportunity to raise their families in their beliefs. Following the naturalization process can bring rewarding results. Come learn how to trace your family through census and church records and then apply that information with online databases to uncover your family’s naturalization papers. ↑ Hide this description.
Misbegotten Children; Tracing the Family Lines of the Illegitimate
Peggy Clemens Lauritzen
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Nearly all families have children with seemingly missing fathers. Yet, there may be clues and resources to help us determine their ancestry. Illegitimacy can be both a surprise and an embarrassment as we discover more and more about our family’s history. Treated with care and sensitivity, we can use many available resources to help us in our research. ↑ Hide this description.
Chasing Uncle William Through the Wilds of Cyberspace
Annette Burke Lyttle
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Our ancestors should be more alive to us than names and dates on a chart. Follow the amazing life of William Crout, Civil War veteran, hotel owner, rancher, and local character, and learn how it’s possible to reconstruct life stories in surprising detail with resources available online!! ↑ Hide this description.
Top Ancestry Search Tips and Tricks
Crista Cowan
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Get the word directly from one of the experts at Ancestry.com. You’ll learn some great tips and tricks on utilizing this website to its fullest. An awesome class! ↑ Hide this description.
Crowdsourcing Your Genealogy: Rethinking Brick Walls
Daniel Earl
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Many beginning genealogists feel like they are working alone. That feeling of isolation comes to the forefront when we work by ourselves on brick wall problems in our research. This presentation looks at using other researchers in a simple and strategic way known as crowdsourcing. Using crowdsourcing can help genealogists to break down their brick walls faster and more cost effectively than other methods. This presentation covers five major websites that genealogists can use to power through brick walls, as well as the online etiquette needed to maximize effectiveness, and how to use crowdsourcing in local society meetings to increase the effectiveness and attractiveness of those meetings. ↑ Hide this description.
Swedish Family History Research
Maureen Brady
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Swedish church records provide a rich resource for identifying your Swedish ancestors. This presentation will include a brief historical review,naming patterns and customs, as well as finding the Swedish parishes and online resources. ↑ Hide this description.
Introduction and General Principles of Doing Jewish Genealogy
Mark Fearer
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Here is the basic class for starting Jewish research! You’ll learn history as well as customs and the best methods to finding your Jewish ancestors! ↑ Hide this description.
Family History Roadshow
Two Family History Consultant TBA
↓ View Class Description
Have you reached a brick wall with one of your ancestors? Need help? Meet the Experts! One-on One! Make a FREE 15-minute appointment with any of the experts on duty that hour! First come, first served, so sign up now!! ↑ Hide this description.