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Online Conference: Tracing Ancestors on the Move 2019

  

|  Schedule |  Special Offers & Door prizes |  Recorded Presentations & Videos |  Instructor Bios |

 

Welcome!

Thank you for registering for the online conference, Tracing Ancestors on the Move!

Our ancestors moved near and far seeking economic opportunities, religious freedoms, and closeness to family. These mobile ancestors, however, are notoriously difficult to research. We might have an ancestor in our sights and then—poof!—they’re gone; or we may have an ancestor for whom we have no idea of where they came from. This online conference will give you the context and motivations behind migrations across America from the 17th to 20th centuries, offer strategies for discovering ancestral origins and future movements, discuss go-to records, and provide tools to help track your family on the move. 

Through your participation in this online conference, you will be able to:

  • Participate in multiple sessions throughout the day 
  • Hear from renowned speakers, migration experts, and professional genealogists 
  • Interact with instructors and fellow attendees 
  • Take advantage of special offers and virtual “door prizes” 
  • Download and/or print handouts, worksheets, and other resources
  • Access recordings of each presentation until October 31, 2019

Instructors include: Lindsay Fulton, Ann Lawthers, Melanie McComb, Alice Kane, and Sheilagh Doerfler  

Conference Schedule

You will have access to all the material on this page from the time you register until October 31, 2019.

During the breaks you will have the opportunity to explore our website, answer survey questions, take advantage of special offers on books, or simply, take a break! REMEMBER: If you miss any of the presentations, you will be able to view a recording of each session on this webpage. 

Live broadcast Description
12:00 - 1:00 PM EDT Session #1: Colonial Migrations and Records, presented by Lindsay Fulton, Director of Research 
1:15 - 2:15 PM EDT Session #2: Westward Migration, 1783-1900, presented by Ann Lawthers, Genealogist 
2:30 - 3:30 PM EDT Session #3: Follow the Money: Go-To Records for Tracing Ancestors on the Move, presented by Melanie McComb, Genealogist
3:45 - 4:45 PM EDT Session #4: He Was in My Sights and Then—Poof!, presented by Alice Kane, Library Patron Services and Consultations Manager 
5:00 - 6:00 PM EDT Session #5: Understanding and Applying Chain Migration in Family History Research, presented by Sheilagh Doerfler, Senior Researcher 

 

SPECIAL OFFERS & DOOR PRIZES

SPECIALS: For conference attendees only! — Save $10 on an order of $30 or more at our  online bookstore. Just enter MovingAncestors819 as your promo code at the time of online checkout. Offer valid until July 27. Start browsing today!

DOOR PRIZES: Everyone was been entered to win a 30-minute consultation with a genealogist (two chances to win). Congratulations to Barbara Jones of Fond du Lac, WI and Jennifer Fife of Hyde Park, UT! 

RECORDED PRESENTATIONS

Online Conference: Tracing Ancestors on the Move
Presented by: Lindsay Fulton, Ann Lawthers, Melanie McComb, Alice Kane, and Sheilagh Doerfler  
Running Time: 5:56:45

Session 1 (3:20)
Session 2 (1:15:07)
Session 3 (2:30:02)
Session 4 (3:44:56)  
Session 5 (4:59:56)

 

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Sheilagh Doerfler, Senior Researcher received her B.A. in History and Communication from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Her research interests include New England, Ireland, Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Norway, and Sweden.

Lindsay Fulton, Director of Research Library joined the Society in 2012, first a member of the Research Services team, and then a Genealogist in the Library. She has been the Director of Research Services since 2016. 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 has appeared as a guest on the Extreme Genes radio program. 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.

Alice Kane, Researcher supervises our team of library genealogists, manages our consultations service, and works with staff to plan and enhance our services to patrons. She joined the American Ancestors library staff in 2012 after a 19-year tenure as a librarian at the Boston Public Library. Alice’s genealogical specialties include Chinese-American genealogy, Massachusetts and New England genealogy, cluster research, database searching, maps, and migration. She earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Harvard University.

Ann Lawthers, Genealogist assists American Ancestors library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Harvard School of Public Health, and has completed the Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research program. She has conducted genealogical projects as an independent researcher. Ann’s areas of interest are New England and New York, the Mid-Atlantic, Ireland, Eastern Canada, and migration patterns. 

Melanie McComb, Genealogist assists library visitors, both on-site and online, with their family history research. She also provides lectures on a variety of genealogical topics. Melanie holds a bachelor of science degree from the State University of New York at Oswego. Her areas of research interest include Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Kansas, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Ireland, and she is experienced in DNA, genealogical technology and social media, Jewish genealogy, and military records.

Course Handouts

Session 1 Handout
Session 1 Slides Worksheet
Session 1 Slides (large)
Session 2 Handout
Session 2 Slides Worksheet
Session 2 Slides (large)
Session 3 Handout
Session 3 Slides Worksheet
Session 3 Slides (large)
Session 4 Handout
Session 4 Slides Worksheet
Session 4 Slides (large)
Session 5 Handout
Session 5 Slides Worksheet
Session 5 Slides (large)

Suggested Resources

Cluster Research Template (.xlsx)

Archived Webinar: Using Maps in Your Family History Research