Thank you for registering for the online course, Researching Your French-Canadian Ancestors!
For researchers with French-Canadian ancestors, there is a wealth of resources available in both Canada and the United States. French-Canadian genealogy, however, is not without its quirks. Shifting boundaries, “dit” names, notarial records, and the language barrier are just some of the challenges you may face. Join genealogist Rhonda R. McClure to learn how to locate and use essential resources, analyze records, and maximize searches to discover your family’s past. This four-week online course will focus on resources pertaining to the province of Quebec; Acadian ancestors are not included in this discussion.
This course includes four 90-minute classes and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation. These recordings and all course materials will be available for the foreseeable future.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Class 1: Getting Started
In this first class, Rhonda R. McClure will discuss how to identify origins in French Canada using both U.S. and Canadian records and explore migratory patterns between the two countries.
Class 2: Church Records & Resources
Church records are a go-to resource for French-Canadian research. Luckily, many have been compiled in the Drouin collection. In this second class, Rhonda will explain how navigate this important collection and use associated indexes. She will also demonstrate how "dit" names can affect a person in the records and how to understand records in French.
Class 3: Notarial Records, Part I
Outside of parish registers, notarial records are one of the most important resources for French-Canadian genealogy and cover a wide array of records, including marriage contracts, wills, guardianships, leases, labor and land agreements, loans, and more. In this class, Rhonda will provide an in-depth look at these critical records including the process of identifying the proper notary and how to use Parchemin and other resources.
Class 4: Notarial Records, Part II
In this final class, we will work directly with the records created by notaries and demonstrate practical steps and methods for transcribing and translating these resources.
COURSE HANDOUTS
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Live broadcast: July 6, 2022
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure
Running Time: 1:33:44
Class 2: Church Records and Resources
Live broadcast: July 13, 2022
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure
Running Time: 1:20:53
Class 3: Notarial Records, Part I
Live broadcast: July 20, 2022
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure
Running Time: 1:23:01
Class 4: Notarial Records, Part II
Live broadcast: July 27, 2022
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure
Running Time: 1:29:33
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer. Before joining American Ancestors in 2006, she ran her own genealogical business for 18 years. She was a contributing editor for Heritage Quest Magazine, Biography magazine, and was a contributor to The History Channel Magazine and American History Magazine. In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of twelve books including the award-winning The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Online Genealogy, Finding your Famous and Infamous Ancestors and Digitizing Your Family History. She is the editor of the newly released 6th edition of the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research. Her areas of expertise include, immigration and naturalization, late 19th- and early 20th-century urban research, missionaries, State Department Federal records, New England, Mid-West, Southern, German, Italian, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and New Brunswick research as well as Internet research, genealogical software and online trees.