Washington DC Family History Center
2009 Family History ConferenceWelcome to the Washington DC Family History Center
3rd Annual Conference
Class Descriptions
| SESSION 1 | |
| 1-1 | Producing a Reliable Family History. Adrian J. Gravelle This class includes a discussion of guidelines for evaluating genealogical evidence, and suggests methods of resolving conflicts in evidence. Topics will include how legal standards of proof can be applied to genealogy research, and how to think and write like a judge in producing a reliable and accurate family history. |
| 1-2 | Beginning Genealogical Research Lorraine Minor Learn the genealogical research process, how to record the results of your research and how to analyze the data you have collected. |
| 1-3 | Research at the D.A.R. Library Julia Coldren-Walker An overview of the resources at the D.A.R. Library and Seimes Microfilm Center. Why everyone should use this resource even if their ancestors did not come to the United States until after the Civil War. A look at the library organization including book call system, on-line catalog, and Genealogical Records Committee Index and available on-line databases. The Seimes collection includes microfilm, fiche as well as access to DAR applications and proof documents. |
| 1-4 | DNA - The Newest Tool for Genealogists Jim Bartlett This presentation will cover simple explanations of how DNA works and how it is used to learn more about: your own genealogy; the genealogies of your SURNAME; finding biological fathers; linking SURNAME trees; discovering your ancestry before records, including Deep Ancestry; and setting up a DNA SURNAME Project |
| 1-5 | New Family Search: Introduction Ken Mortensen Learn the basics: how to sign in, use the Help features, view family information, navigate through the screens, find and use features that allow you to see and work with your family information. (NOTE: At this time, access to new FamilySearch is available only to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) |
| SESSION 2 | |
| 2-1 | Female Ancestors: A Case Study Rebecca Koford This class is for beginner and intermediate-level researchers. We will focus on "cluster genealogy" to find out more about our elusive ancestral mothers. We will briefly observe the status of women in the past and use a case study to show how a narrative can be constructed from direct and indirect evidence. |
| 2-2 | Legacy Family Tree Software, Getting Started and a Lot More Dr. Pamela Loos-Noji This is the first hour of a two hour class. The first hour will teach all the basics you need to begin to build your family database from scratch, and take care of some pesky issues that occur when information changes. The second hour will teach how to use the other parts of the program that enrich your database. While not exhaustive for all of Legacy's features, you'll be well on your way to a dynamite database for sharing and for posterity. |
| 2-3 | But Should I Spend the Money? A Look at Major For-Pay Websites Julia Coldren-Walker A look at the major commercial genealogy websites and at their value versus the cost. With all the free information is it really worth paying for these sites? Websites include Ancestry, Footnote, GenealogyBank, Newspaper Archives, Origins (British and Irish). A brief look at the value of membership sites such as New England Historic Genealogical Society. |
| 2-4 | Personal Property Tax Lists � A Good Tool for Genealogists Jim Bartlett This presentation will cover what is in the PPTL, how often it was taken, where to easily view these lists and how they can be used as a tool to learn more about your family lines. |
| 2-5 | New Family Search: How to Search and Add Individuals Ilene Shelton Learn to use the "Search" and "Add" tabs: how to find an individual; search for someone missing from your family tree; add new individuals to nFS by typing into the database, cutting and pasting from your genealogy program, or uploading a gedcom. (NOTE: At this time, access to new FamilySearch is available only to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) |
| SESSION 3 | |
| 3-1 | Canadian Genealogical Research: Part 1 Adrian J. Gravelle Learn how to research your Canadian ancestors from sources available to you locally. This course includes a presentation of those aspects of Canadian history that relate to genealogical research, including a survey of genealogical resources available locally and on the Internet. While special emphasis will be on Quebec and Acadian research, the class includes a discussion of research in other Canadian locales. NOTE: This is a 2-1/2 hour class. |
| 3-2 | Legacy Family Tree Software, Getting Started and a Lot More: Part 2 Dr. Pamela Loos-Noji This is the second hour of a two hour class. The first hour will teach all the basics you need to begin to build your family database from scratch, and take care of some pesky issues that occur when information changes. The second hour will teach how to use the other parts of the program that enrich your database. While not exhaustive for all of Legacy's features, you'll be well on your way to a dynamite database for sharing and for posterity. |
| 3-3 | You Better Watch Out! Omissions, Errors & Fraud Julia Coldren-Walker A look at the problems with genealogic information published in print and on line as well as original documents. These problems including omissions, mistakes, and fraud. A look at the estate scams such as Anneke Jans Bogardus and fraudulent genealogies prepared by Gustav Anjou. Specific steps to protect yourself from being taken in. |
| 3-4 | Creating an Effective Research Plan Angela McGhie Do you have a plan to guide your research or do you just collect whatever records you find? Come learn a process for analyzing the information you have and creating a plan for effective research. |
| 3-5 | New FamilySearch: How to Combine Records Ilene Shelton Learn the critically important technique of finding, evaluating and combining duplicate records. (NOTE: At this time, access to new FamilySearch is available only to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) |
| SESSION 4 | |
| 4-1 | Canadian Genealogical Research: Part 2 Adrian J. Gravelle Learn how to research your Canadian ancestors from sources available to you locally. This course includes a presentation of those aspects of Canadian history that relate to genealogical research, including a survey of genealogical resources available locally and on the Internet. While special emphasis will be on Quebec and Acadian research, the class includes a discussion of research in other Canadian locales. NOTE: This is a 2-1/2 hour class. |
| 4-2 | Looking in all the Right Places - Overlooked Documents for Japanese-American Family History at the National Archives Dr. Pamela Loos-Noji One edited database about internees taken from Record Group 210 (Records of the War Relocation Authority) is available on Ancestry and at the ADD link on the Archives website, but it is hardly more than a tease as to what exists in these partially restricted records held at both Archives I and II. This class will give an overview of existing documents, highlight the ones most rich in data for the family historian, and give details on how to pull the documents at the Finding Aids desks. |
| 4-3 | Across the Pond: Immigration and Naturalization for our Ancestors Rebecca Koford This class is for intermediate-level genealogists who already know the basics of family history research. We will discuss some of the more specific needs to finding your ancestor's origins "across the pond." This class will look into sources that may identify your ancestor's native lands, including a look at historical migrations, family legends, immigration papers, immigration docking ports, naturalizations, passport applications, cemeteries, and other sources. |
| 4-4 | Finding Original Records on the Internet Angela McGhie Records are being digitized and put online at an ever increasing pace. Come discover which original records are now available and where to find them on the internet. We will look at census, vital, land and military records along with maps and newspapers. |
| 4-5 | New FamilySearch: How to Process Names for Temple Work Ken Mortensen Learn how to prepare, reserve and select names for temple ordinance work, how to prepare a Family Ordinance Request (FOR), how to reprint an FOR, and how to release reserved names. (NOTE: At this time, access to new FamilySearch is available only to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) |
| SESSION N | |
| None | No class selected. No class selected for this session. |