Welcome to the Washington DC Family History Center
4th Annual Conference

Class Descriptions

SESSION 1
1-1	Discovering Historic Newspapers Angela McGhie Newspapers are a valuable source for genealogical data including obituaries, birth and marriage announcements, and news articles relating to your family. Come learn how to find which newspapers were printed in the time and location your ancestors lived, and how to access them now. We will look at the digitized newspapers available on both free and subscription Web sites.
1-2	Identifying & Preserving Family Photographs Rebecca Koford This class is for beginner and intermediate-level researchers. We will learn a brief history of photography and see how it impacted our ancestors' lives. We'll talk about clues inside photographs that may help us identify the sitters. We will conclude with ways to store and share our ancestors' precious photos for generations to come.
1-3	African-American Research in Maryland Michael Hait This lecture will present tips and techniques for researching your African-American ancestors. You will also learn about several record groups created by the Maryland government that deal specifically with both free and enslaved African-Americans, and how to identify the owners of enslaved African-Americans.
1-4	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 prepare by Gustav Anjou. Specific steps to protect yourself from being taken in.
1-5	DNA in Genealogical Research Tom Shawker This presentation explains the principles behind Y chromosome and Mitochondrial DNA tests for genealogy, how to interpret the results, and how they can be used for genealogy. It is designed to address the needs of the very beginner in DNA technology.
SESSION 2
2-1	What�s New at FamilySearch Angela McGhie What�s new at FamilySearch . . . Millions of digitized records, online research classes, and a genealogy "wiki." Come learn how to access the digital collection of the Family History Library, research guidance from experts around the world, eight series of genealogy lessons, and other new resources at FamilySearch.org.
2-2	City Directories, Taxes & Voter Registrations Rebecca Koford See how going beyond the basics can help you solve some of the holes in your ancestor's stories. We will discuss the value of three little known gems, City Directories, Taxes, and Voter Registrations. We'll find out what clues they can give us to finding other ancestral records and where to find them. This class is for intermediate-level researchers.
2-3	Involving Children in Family History Mary Jean Sokolowsky This class will discuss ways to introduce family history to children and help them participate in learning about their families. Books, games, music, and online projects will be discussed. Methods for formal and informal teaching and involvement will be taught. We might even play a game and sing a song!
2-4	The Immigrant Experience - How They Came to America Tom Sadauskas Every family with immigrant ancestors has stories of how their family first arrived in America. Many of these stories contain grains of truth as well as unsubstantiated myths. This presentation looks at the immigration process that our ancestors went through to come to America. Topics to be covered include: What emigrants had to do to "escape" or leave their countries Emigration routes and means of travel to the various European departure ports Conditions facing emigrants at the departure ports The different sailing routes and ports of entry including Canada & Mexico What emigrants faced at the various ports of entry Record sources for research
2-5	Gathering Your Materials: Doing It Right Pat Shawker The Board for Certification of Genealogists has developed Data-Collection Standards which can be found in their publication The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual. Following these standards can save research time. This lecture will discuss how to collect the data properly the first time.
SESSION 3
3-1	Using Wills in Genealogical Research Sue Mortensen In this class we will discuss the legal and social aspects of wills, the documents involved in the probate process and how these documents hold important clues for the researcher. We will also discuss how documents found in the probate files not only provide important dates and names, but can also add rich details about the lives of our ancestors.
3-2	Getting Started with Your 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.
3-3	Native American Genealogy Margo Williams This workshop will feature the basics of Native American research, including the different strategies, document groups, and challenges in Eastern and Western tribal research.
3-4	Preparing a Lineage Application Julia Coldren-Walker
3-5	Race, Ethnicity and Ancestry: DNA Testing Tom Shawker Where in Africa do I come from? Do I have Native American or Jewish ancestry? These are some of the questions that you can research using DNA tests such as the Y chromosome, mtDNA, and autosomal markers. This lecture will discuss the value of these tests, how to apply them, and how to interpret the results.
SESSION 4
4-1	Preparing Detailed Chronologies for Personal & Family Histories Sue Mortensen Using a chronology is another way to organize the data we have collected on an individual or family. In this class we will discuss how preparing and using a chronology can help the researcher discover gaps or oversights in their research. We will also discuss how a chronology can help you write your ancestor's biography and also your own life story.
4-2	Your Frequent Flier Immigrant Ancestors Tom Sadauskas One little known immigration phenomena is that of multiple passages of immigrants to America and their return to the Old Country. Anywhere from one-fourth to one-third of immigrants ultimately returned to their native homeland. One of the reasons researchers often fail to find �missing ancestors� is that these ancestors lived in America for a brief time and then returned permanently to the Old Country. This presentation looks at why these frequent fliers chose re-emigration as well as ways for finding them. Topics to be covered include: Economic conditions causing re-emigration Mobility of the migrant work force Impact of re-emigration on the Old Country Illustrative case studies of re-emigration Record sources for research
4-3	Research in the Caribbean Kenisha Laver Learn how to find and use Vital Records for research in Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Trinidad, Tobago
4-4	Research at the D.A.R. Library In Person and From Home Julia Coldren-Walker An overview of the resources at the D.A.R. Library and Seimes Microfilm Center. Many resources at the DAR can now be researched at home. We�ll discuss why everyone should use this resource even if their ancestors did not come to the United States until after the Civil War, review 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.
4-5	How to Start a Family History Website Using MyFamily.com Ken Mortensen Uploading your genealogy information to a website is a terrific way to share your findings and connect with others who are researching your family lines. This class will cover the following items regarding this valuable and FREE website: What is required to join? Who can access your website once it is established? What can be stored and shared on the website? [family stories, news, photos, video, family histories, calendar events, and more] How to begin and where to get help?