Thank you for registering for the online course, Finding Origins: Cluster Research in Practice!
One of the most common—and important—questions a family historian asks is “where did my ancestors come from?” The answer to this question can open your research to new records, relatives, and stories. Whether you can’t find your ancestor before a certain time, want to know exactly where in the old country they’re from, or desire to visit the ancestral homestead, this online course will demonstrate how cluster research can answer this age-old question. Using several case studies, we will present a step-by-step approach to organizing, researching, and resolving your quest to find origins.
This course includes exclusive access to three 90-minute lecture recordings and handouts. These recordings and all course materials will be available for the foreseeable future.
COURSE TOPICS
Class 1: Ancestors on the Move
Presented by Lindsay Fulton
Sometimes ancestors seem to appear out of nowhere—you can’t find where they moved from. This first class will use a case study to show how you can build the timeline of your ancestor’s movements and implement cluster research to determine origins when very little is already known about your ancestor.
Class 2: Finding the Ancestral Home
Presented by Sheilagh Doerfler
We all hope to visit the ancestral home of our ancestors, but changing boundaries, neighborhoods, and topography can make that a difficult task. In this second class we will examine a case study that uses maps and lands records to piece together the location of a family home.
Class 3: Immigrant Origins
Presented by James Heffernan
One of the hardest tasks a family historian can embark upon is to “jump across the pond” and discover exactly where in the old country an ancestor hails from. This final class will provide practical strategies and a methodical step-by-step approach to uncovering immigrant origins.
COURSE HANDOUTS
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Class 1: Ancestors on the Move
Live Broadcast: November 2, 2022
Presented by: Lindsay Fulton
Running Time: 1:37:25
Class 2: Finding the Ancestral Home
Live Broadcast: November 9, 2022
Presented by: Sheilagh Doerfler
Running Time: 1:23:50
Live Broadcast: November 16, 2022
Presented by: James Heffernan
Running Time: 1:05:11
OTHER RESOURCES
Archived Webinar: Creating a Research Plan for Cluster Research
Syllabus: Creating a Research Plan for Cluster Research
Annotated Research Log (.xlsx)
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Sheilagh Doerfler, Genealogist received her B.A. in History and Communication from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Sheilagh is a genealogist in our Research Services department conducting research for hire. Essentially, her job is to tackle research challenges on a daily basis and knock down genealogical brick walls. Her research interests include New England, New York, Ireland, Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Norway, and Sweden.
Lindsay Fulton, Vice President For Research And Library Services is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer who joined American Ancestors in 2012, first as a Researcher and then as a Genealogist; now she leads the Research and Library Services team as Vice President. In addition to helping constituents with their research, Lindsay has also authored a Portable Genealogists on the topics of Applying to Lineage Societies, the United States Federal Census, 1790-1840 and the United States Federal Census, 1850-1940. She is a frequent contributor to the American Ancestors blog, Vita-Brevis, and was featured in the Emmy-Winning Program: Finding your Roots: The Seedlings, a web series inspired by the popular PBS series “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Before, American Ancestors, Lindsay worked at the National Archives and Records Administration in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she designed and implemented an original curriculum program exploring the Chinese Exclusion Era for elementary school students. She holds a B.A. from Merrimack College and M.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Her areas of expertise include State and Federal Censuses, New England, Ireland, and New York research, with a focus on lineage society applications.
James Heffernan, Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press James earned his BA in history at Boston College. Before joining the American Ancestors team, he worked in the conservation department of the John J. Burns Library at Boston College and the research library at Plimoth Plantation. Propelled by his interests in genealogy and history, James spent a semester abroad at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. In addition to Slavic history, he is very interested in the history of Colonial America and 19th century Massachusetts.
This copyrighted online course is the property of New England Historic Genealogical Society. Any rebroadcast or reproduction without the express written consent of American Ancestors is strictly prohibited.