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. 

Newspapers contain a wealth of information for genealogists from obituaries to birth and marriage announcements, from feature articles to classifieds. Newspapers also provide historical narrative and a glimpse into your ancestor’s everyday life. You will learn what information is available, how it can help you in your family history research, and how to access these important resources—especially those available at the American Ancestors library and on AmericanAncestors.org.

This lecture offers many examples of the more prominent records for genealogy in Italy and how best to read them and translate them. 

Passenger arrival records, border crossings, passport applications, and records of special inquiry are just some of the types of immigration and naturalization records available at the National Archives. We will provide an overview of these important resources, how to access them, and how to make the most of them in your family history research. 

The Huguenots were French Protestants persecuted by a staunchly Catholic government. Thousands fled France in the 16th and 17th centuries seeking refuge across Europe, Africa, and North America including areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina. Join us to learn more about these religious refugees, where they came from and where they settled in America, and how to research them using several published resources.

Beyond the all-important passenger list, immigration to America resulted in the creation of several other records. This presentation will demonstrate how to utilize several records, including: passports (both those from the origin nation and those later applied for by naturalized US citizens), border crossings, C-Files (naturalization certificates, 1906-1956), AR-2 Files (Alien Registration Forms, 1940-1944), WWI Alien Registrations (1918, gathered by each state), Visa Files (1924-1944), A-Files (1944-1951), and the Arolsen Archive database, which documents European refugee arrivals following Nazi persecution. 

Throughout history, there are individuals who find it difficult to live within the rules of a society, often turning to criminal, illegal activities. While some criminals can skirt the law, more often they are caught, leaving a paper trail documenting their activities, whereabouts, and other valuable information that can be used in tracing family history. We will provide an overview of key resources that can be used to research the criminals in your own family tree, including newspapers, jail registers, prison records, court records, and more.

With the influx of immigrants to America in the 20th century, many immigrant aid societies were created to assist new arrivals with job placement, medical support, finding lost family, and generally get them acclimated to life in America. Some of these organizations include Traveler’s Aid Society, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), Charitable Irish Society of Boston, the Irish Emigrant Society of New York, St. Raphael’s Society, and many others. The records and case files kept by each society can offer a detailed look into the life of your ancestor. This session will provide a brief history of the immigrant aid society movement in America, how they operated, what information can be found in records, and how to locate them.