Família! Learn the basics of Portuguese family history research. Our expert will discuss some of the common challenges in Portuguese research, review go-to records and resources, and demonstrate key search strategies.
This lecture looks at how to get started in researching your Italian ancestors by examining records generated in the U.S. and Italy and what is most important in effectively researching in Italian records.
In this lecture, we will walk you through the beginning steps of German research: understanding waves of immigration to America, getting back to the immigrant generation, finding where in Germany your ancestors came from, and understanding the many German border changes pre- and post-unification.
You may know that your ancestor was Christian, but to really make headway in your research, you need to know what denomination(s) they followed. To find that information, you must first understand context. This lecture will provide a brief history and background of Christian denominations in the United States and how geography, time period, community, family artifacts, and more can give you the clues you need to proceed.
Was your ancestor a Freemason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Columbus, or a member of another fraternal organization? In this webinar, we will teach you how to identify different fraternal organizations, provide valuable tools for locating a lodge and its records, and discuss how these records can enrich your family history research.
Once you know what denomination your ancestor belonged to and the church they attended, it’s time to find the records. With the understanding that not everything is online, this lecture will discuss navigating online resources, researching manuscript materials at denominational archives, and working directly with the church.
City and rural directories can be incredibly useful resources for genealogists. They can help you pinpoint a time and place for ancestors on the move, offer occupational information, and even help give clues to death and marriage dates. You will learn how these resources were created, what information is generally provided, where to locate these sources online or in print, and how to use these records effectively in your family history research.
Centuries of Irish history were lost as a result of the Four Courts Fire in Dublin in 1922. We will delve into the history leading up to the battle at the Four Courts, discuss the records that were housed in the Public Records Office, and explain why their destruction has made researching in Ireland so difficult. The lecture will also include record alternatives, what survived, records in other repositories and an initiative to recreate a virtual Public Records Office.
Notarial records are an essential—yet often overlooked—resource for family historians researching ancestors with roots in Quebec. From marriages to estate inventories to labor contracts these records can provide a wealth of genealogical information not found elsewhere. Join us to learn about what types of notarial records exist, how to access them, and how to get the most out of these important resources.
Beyond civil and church records, there are many resources that can assist you in your family history research. This session will review town Lineage/family books (Ortssippenbuch/Ortsfamilienbuch), census records (Volkszählungen), emigration records, occupational records, and military records. We will also discuss how to work with German archives and researchers remotely.
