After finding clues in commonly acquired records, censuses, vital records, etc., folks will be taken through the process of accessing not only the records, but the courthouse itself.

While some county records are available on-line, gaps may occur, or it will be limited to the indices. In other cases the records/files of other departments, and there are many, that do not.

For those unfamiliar with courthouse research, on-line or in-person, this presentation provides guidance on
• What to look for in existing documents
• Preparing for an on-site visit
• Various departments and the records they hold
• Having a successful experience

Susan E. Evans has over 40 years’ experience as a genealogist with the added bonus of having been a General Practice Paralegal and working in a variety of fields. She has performed courthouse research in (and on-line) Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Susan is Owner/Genealogist of Family Tales & Trails offering research assistance, heir searches, consultations, presentations and classes. Follow Family Tails & Trails on Facebook. For additional information about services: susanevanspacp@gmail.com

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees.

Ellis Island served as the main entry point for millions of immigrants to the United States, with its peak years between 1892 and 1924. This presentation places Ellis Island within the context of US immigration history, debunking some long-standing urban legends. It considers the documents generated as part of the immigration process, including how to find them and what information they include. Additionally, it looks at Ellis Island’s recent story, from its abandonment and partial restoration, and reflects on the conflicting yet critical immigration story in our nation’s long history.

Matt has been fascinated by history for as long as he can remember and has had a passion for genealogy for the past 35 years. As an adoptee himself, he fully appreciates the importance of uncovering one’s roots. Matt’s academic background in historical geography has been invaluable in supporting his genealogical interests, and he has graduated from ProGen 47 and multiple genealogical institutes.

Matt has served in various leadership positions, including as the secretary of the New Jersey Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), is currently the organization delegate for the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society (Oregon) and is serving as the Vice-Chair of the Delegates Council of the National Genealogical Society. He is also an active member of the New York Metro and Greater Philadelphia Chapters of the APG and several other local genealogical societies. Matt’s work has been published in numerous local and state genealogical journals.

Researching the women in our family can be problematic. Our female ancestors left very few records making it challenging to determine a maiden name or family of origin. This program will cover strategies and record groups that can advance your research and help to uncover female ancestors as well as learn more about their lives.

Laura is a New Jersey native with deep Pennsylvania roots, Laura is a genealogical researcher, lecturer, and the owner of LCD GenealogyServices based in Metuchen, NJ. Laura holds a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University, is a graduate of ProGen 40, and has completed many institute courses.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees.

Do you have gaps of missing information in your ancestor’s timeline? 

Using archives and the records they hold can fill in those gaps. Moving beyond the basic census records and vital records to unique records and records that are not online will help you fill in those gaps in your ancestor’s timeline. 

Visiting and contacting local and state archives is key in finding records about our ancestors that are not online and that can fill in the gaps in our ancestor’s timeline.

Melissa Barker is a Certified Archives Manager and Public Historian currently working at the Houston County, Tennessee Archives. She is affectionally known as The Archive Lady to the genealogy community. She lectures, teaches, and writes about the genealogy research process, researching in archives and records preservation. She conducts virtual presentations across the United States and other countries for various genealogy groups and societies. She writes a popular blog entitled A Genealogist in the Archives and is a well-known published book reviewer. She has been a Professional Genealogist for the past 17 years with expertise in Tennessee records. She has been researching her own family history for the past 32 years.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees.

Someday the story of your life will be written. The only question is how well or badly it will be written—what sort of picture it will leave behind for friends and family members, including those not yet born. I’ve written Yours Truly for anyone who wants that story to be fair, accurate, interesting and maybe even inspiring. My book explains how to make sure your story is told the way you want—and how thinking about and preparing your story can help you live a better life. My advice: Tell your own story. Don’t leave it to friends or family, who almost certainly will make a hash of it. Yours Truly also guides you in writing the life story of a loved one who is unwilling or unable to take on that project. Named by the Washington Post as one of 10 noteworthy books published in December 2022.

James R. (Bob) Hagerty, based in Pittsburgh, writes obituaries for The Wall Street Journal and other newspapers. Over the past four decades, he has worked as a reporter, editor and bureau chief for the WSJ and the International Herald Tribune in Hong Kong, London, Brussels, Paris, Atlanta and New York. He holds a degree in economics from the University of North Dakota. Hagerty is the author of “Yours Truly” (Kensington Citadel, December 2022) and “The Fateful History of Fannie Mae” (History Press, 2012). In his spare time, he directs a Scrabble club and teaches English language courses to immigrants through Literacy Pittsburgh.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees.

Pennsylvania has amazing genealogical and historical resources. Are you taking full advantage of all repositories, libraries, and collections in this state? Sydney F. Cruice, a professional genealogist will show you how to find them and maximize their collections and genealogical assets.

Sydney F. Cruice is a professional genealogy researcher, writer, teacher and international lecturer with over 25 years of experience. She has lectured at many institutes and conferences including: SLIG, IGHR, IAJGS, IGGP, RFIPA.  For over seven years she developed the curriculum and taught the Foundation of Genealogy courses at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. She also served as the President of the Association of Professional Genealogists for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter for the past 6 years. Sydney has a BA from Pennsylvania State University and MBA from Drexel University.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees.

Navigating the Pennsylvania State Archives website, catalog, and online collections can be difficult, especially for those unfamiliar with the Archives’ collections. This presentation will provide an in-depth look at the State Archives catalog and online resources. It will cover how to search the catalog, interpret the results, and identify what is and is not accessible digitally online. The presentation will also cover basic search room policies and procedures and what researchers can expect when visiting the new facility.

Aaron McWilliams is head of the Public Services Section at the Pennsylvania State Archives. He is responsible for handling research inquiries at the Archives and frequently represents the agency at genealogical events. His areas of expertise include Pennsylvania state land records, Pennsylvania’s Revolutionary War militia, and genealogy. He has appeared on WITF’s Radio Smart Talk and contributed to both “Who Do You Think You Are?” and “Finding Your Roots.” Prior to joining the Pennsylvania State Archives, Aaron worked as a reference archivist at the Maryland State Archives and as a professional genealogist.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees.

One of the biggest challenges we face when writing family histories is how to turn the bare facts into tales worthy of being read, but our ancestors were real people, not just names, dates and places.  We’ll explore four different approaches that can help us to understand them in the context of the time and place in which they lived, and to look for unexpected clues in the information we’ve already gathered.  By digging deeply into the genealogical details, we can bring our ancestors’ stories to life.

Pam Vestal is a professional genealogist and national speaker who turned her focus to her longtime love of genealogy after a 20-year writing career. Her articles have appeared in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly and the National Genealogical Society Magazine, and her lectures take her from coast to coast.  Pam specializes in conducting genealogical research and then transforming that information into illustrated stories that even non-genealogists can enjoy.

Pennsylvania has collections in private and government archives that will likely never be digitized and made available online. Learn which ones are most useful to genealogists in answering questions of parentage, occupation, and circumstances.

Denys tells us:
“I created PA Ancestors in 2019 to take everything I learned and help as many people as possible discover their ancestors in Pennsylvania. I’ve created what I wish I had when I started my research on my ancestors.”

“My life’s goal is to understand everything I can about my seven generations of ancestors who called Pennsylvania home. I’m curious and daring, and I go on adventures to find new genealogy records. I will be your guide and coach and help you discover everything possible on your ancestors.
Everything I publish here or on my YouTube channel is based on hundreds of hours of independent research and study. I also take courses with people I consider top of their field. Here is a list of recent programs I’ve completed:

Do you have ancestors who were enslavers or who were enslaved? Many of us have some connection to slavery, whether we realize it or not. This presentation will explain how and why a descendant of enslavers decided to embark on a major research project to trace the people his ancestors enslaved and their ancestors and to connect with their living descendants. The other part of the presentation will include specific examples of research from that project entitled, “Enslaved at Oakley & Beyond.” The presentation has two main goals: to impart a better understanding of sources, research methods, and tools used when researching enslaved people and enslavers; and to encourage others to have conversations within their own families and perhaps embark on a research project of their own.

Joseph Roby currently is the Chapter Representative for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (GPAC-APG). He has also served as Program Coordinator for that same organization. He has filled many roles for the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (GSP), including interim Program Committee Chairperson and membership on its Board of Directors. Joseph is also member of several other historical and genealogical organizations in the region, including the Main Line Genealogy Club. His current research focuses on Virginia and the people his ancestors enslaved. Joseph has a blog entitled, “Too Many Ancestors, Too Little Time” (https://toomanyancestors.com/). He lives in Philadelphia

The event image: Mary Eliza “Ida” Powell & Henry Grafton Dulany Family Bible Records, 1855-2023, The Holy Bible (New York: American Bible Society, 1854), “Oakley servants”; privately held by Joseph Roby, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2022. Passed down through their son Henry Rozier Dulany, his son Henry Rozier Dulany, Jr., his son Benjamin Weems Dulany, then to his daughter [living], then to Joseph Roby. Most of the family records in the bible are in different handwriting and inks, however the two pages with the “servants” names are in the same handwriting and ink. Because of the last dates, handwriting, and known facts, I believe Ida Powell Dulany wrote those two pages of names c. 1860.

Save yourself future frustration and disappointment by putting a solid genealogy organizational plan in place for all the types of items that will be coming your way. I personally use the systems that I am sharing with you, and they have proven to be reliable and efficient. We will cover systems for 4 types of stuff:
1. Organizing All This Paper! The Physical Items Organization System
2. Organizing All That Genealogical Data! The Family Tree Data Organization System
3. Organizing All These Digital Files! The Digital Organization System
4. Organizing All that Web Information! The Online Notetaking System

Lisa Louise Cooke is the author of several books including The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox, 3rd edition. She produces and hosts the popular Genealogy Gems Podcast, and the free weekly YouTube show Elevenses with Lisa at the Genealogy Gems YouTube channel. She offers a Premium Membership service at her website ( https://lisalouisecooke.com ) featuring exclusive on-demand genealogy education. And she writes a regular column for Family Tree Magazine and produces the Family Tree Magazine Podcast.

Note: Michael will be presenting in person at the Tredyffin Library

Land records, including warrants, surveys, patents, deeds and mortgages, are essential genealogical, original records that most often provide participants’ information and answer questions of identity, relationship, event, or situation, as required by the Genealogical Proof Standard. These records often answer questions not answered by any other documents. And yet, land records are the least understood and pursued records in the field of family history. This presentation aims to provide both the real estate background and research specifics to lead you to the land records that may solve your brick walls.

Michael S. Ramage, JD, CG, is a full-time professional genealogist, author and lecturer. Mr. Ramage has served as a Trustee, officer and now General Counsel of BCG. His 25-year law practice included real estate and estate law and litigation. He has taught numerous genealogy courses at genealogy conferences and institutes around the country. His related publications include the “Forensic Specialization” and “Ethical Considerations” chapters in Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice & Standards, Elizabeth Shown Mills, editor (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2018). Michael is the 2021 recipient of both The Donn Devine Award for Extraordinary Service to the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, and The APG Professional Achievement Award that honors individual excellence and ethical behavior.

Register for the event:  HERE 

You must register  to receive the Zoom link to attend online and/or receive a link to the speaker’s handout.

REGISTER HERE

The Main Line Genealogy Club is delighted to sponsor this online evening event during this year’s Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. It is FREE for all those who register to attend.

Paul Woodbury on “Right Place, Right Time, Right Person: Intersections of DNA and Document Evidence.” At the end of the day, genetic genealogy is just genealogy. We must consider DNA evidence in the context of document evidence. Even so, finding the intersections of DNA and document evidence might require unique approaches and uses of the common record sets we use every day. You can find Paul’s photo and biography on the Institute’s faculty listing here.

The presentation will begin at 7 PM Eastern (4 PM Pacific), June 21 and will be held live via Zoom meeting and will NOT be recorded.

You must pre-register for the event in advance in order to receive the Zoom link. Click –> HERE <– to pre-register. You will be asked to provide your name and email address. As a free event, you will not be asked to make a donation

KEEP THE CONFIRMATION EMAIL that the sign-up generates. This will be the ONLY reminder and contains the link to join the meeting at the appropriate hour.

In this fun and informative presentation, Michelle will outline her most important DNA tips with a list of her top ten things you should do if you want to make progress with DNA testing for family history as well as her top ten things you should avoid. These tips will help you be successful on your DNA journey and steer clear of common mistakes and pitfalls.

Michelle Leonard is a Scottish professional genealogist, DNA detective, author, speaker, historian and the official genetic genealogist of #AncestryHour. She runs her own genealogy and DNA consultancy business, Genes & Genealogy, specializing in solving unknown parentage and all manner of unknown ancestor mysteries using a combination of DNA results analysis and traditional research methodologies. She also undertakes conventional family history research, living relative tracing, media consultation, lecturing, coaching, podcasts, webinars, speaking engagements, teaching ‘DNA Bootcamp’ courses for Family Tree Magazine and article, blog and book writing commissions. Additionally, she is known for her work on the WW1 Fromelles Genealogy Project, is a co-author of ‘Tracing Your Ancestors Using DNA: A Guide For Family Historians’ and is a regular speaker at major global genealogy events.

You can register for the event HERE.

PLEASE CLICK  HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees.

Census Records are one of the first record sets used when building a family tree, but many researchers don’t know enough about this source to maximize the data contained in these records. Learn strategies to locate the missing, destroyed, misspelled and overlooked in these incredible government documents. Discover their hidden bits of information that can help provide answers, to your family mysteries. Explore the data reported in the U. S. Non-population Census Schedules, and where to find these amazing, but often over looked, documents. Examine the collection details behind Federal Census so you can better interpret, and utilize, all the information contained in these valuable sources. Learn the method to combine the data in the 1790-1840 Federal Censuses to reveal the birth years for the unnamed individuals in these under used census years.

Sydney F. Cruice is a professional genealogist, writer and national lecturer. She holds an MBA from Drexel University and a BA from Penn State University. She is the current President of the Association of Professional Genealogists for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter, and she has served on the Genealogy Advisory Committee for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP). She developed the curriculum and has taught Foundations of Genealogy courses at HSP for the past seven years. She was a faculty member for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research of the Georgia Genealogical Society in 2020. She has served as a faculty member since 2016 and the Program Coordinator since 2020 of the Researching Family in Pennsylvania Institute in Philadelphia. Sydney cofounded the Greater Philadelphia Genealogy Consortium in 2017 – an organization that encourages the growth and cooperation between genealogy and historical organizations in the greater Philadelphia area (currently 29 member organizations). In October 2018, the National Genealogical Society featured Sydney’s article, “A Family Secret: Desertion, Scurvy, and President Lincoln” as the cover story for NGS Magazine. In addition, she has appeared on the local, Philadelphia NBC-10 news television station with Randy Gyllenhaal discussing at home DNA testing kits. 

PLEASE CLICK  HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees.

Learn how to use timelines with clues found in city directories, census records, and other documents to solve https://www.eventbrite.com/e/687381565767/?aff=oddtdtcreatormysteries involving otherwise “invisible” ancestors in bigger cities.

Kimberly F.B. Bucklaw is an archivist, historian, educator, and professional genealogist. Kim has a master’s degree in history from Temple University with a concentration in archival studies. With nearly twenty years experience as both reference professional and researcher, she specializes in Mid-Atlantic genealogy, county government records, and property research. She is also highly skilled in genetic genealogy and has solved dozens of difficult cases with the use of DNA testing. After an extremely fulfilling decade-plus career as an archivist in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Kim now runs her own historical research and consulting business.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees. (Coming soon)

Katherine R. Willson of Dexter, Michigan is an engaging and dynamic genealogy lecturer at regional and national events; a full-time researcher for private clients; and a genealogy educator for 25+ years. She is the founder & past President of the Virtual Genealogical Association, past President of the Michigan Genealogical Council, and past board member for the Association of Professional Genealogists. Katherine has coordinated and taught courses for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, with sessions focused on America’s westward expansion, and on teaching genealogy courses in your community. Her website at SocialMediaGenealogy.com contains multiple resources, including a catalog of almost 17,000+ genealogy/history links on Facebook, a catalog of 190+ genealogy YouTube channels, and a catalog of 76 genealogy podcasts.

PLEASE CLICK  HERE TO REGISTER. The handout and Zoom link will only be sent to registered attendees.

Learn tips for beginning research in an unfamiliar geographic area through the example of the Scroggins and Dimick families in Southern Illinois.

1. Conducting a Geographic Survey
   • How to get familiar with the counties, towns, and other geographic features
   • Discussion on maps and geographic resources
2. Conducting a Records-Availability Survey
   • Demonstration on ways to determine the records that are available, both online and off using FamilySearch, Ancestry, County government websites, local libraries and universities, and ArchiveGrid.
3. Creation of a research guide including tools, websites, and styles

Cari A. Taplin is related to Roy Rogers. Or at least that’s what her family told her. As a result, finding her true heritage has been her focus since the year 2000. She is a native of Wood County, Ohio but now lives in Longmont, Colorado. Cari holds the Certified Genealogist® credential and has served in a wide variety of volunteer and leadership positions for state, local, and national societies. As the owner of GenealogyPANTS, she provides speaking services. She also lends help and shares her expertise as an administrator on the highly popular Facebook Group “The Genealogy Squad.” Cari currently works for Ancestry ProGenealogists. Cari’s personal research focuses on midwestern and Great Lakes states. When she’s not working on her genealogy, she is a wife, and a mother of two young adults.

Whether you are a casual family history hobbyist or on the professional genealogy track, everyone needs to know how to provide solid genealogical proof. How you support your family research findings is the difference between genealogy and mythology. We will demystify the Genealogy Proof Standard and discuss its five components. You will learn how to put together evidence to provide a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion. We will explore the different types of written conclusions and how the complexity of the genealogy research dictates which type of written conclusion is necessary for true genealogical proof. Lastly, we will look at several case studies to see how to build genealogy proof statements, proof summaries, and proof arguments. Make sure you know what to do to guarantee your genealogy research findings will be taken seriously for generations to come.

Sydney F. Cruice Dixon is a professional genealogy researcher, writer and national lecturer. She has been a faculty member for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research of the Georgia Genealogical Society and the Researching Family in Pennsylvania Institute of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. In addition, she developed the curriculum and has taught the Foundations of Genealogy courses at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for the past 7 years. She is the current President of the Association of Professional Genealogists for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter. In October 2018, Sydney’s article, “A Family Secret: Desertion, Scurvy, and President Lincoln”, was featured in NGS Magazine.

Alex Haley’s (alexhaley.com) Roots book and TV miniseries in 1976/1977 ushered in an era of family history research that illustrated that it was possible for African Americans to trace their
heritage back prior to 1870. During this year’s Black History Month, Dean Henry will recap not only the “typical” African American genealogy research process using examples / illustrations ,
including some from his own family research, but will also dispel some myths about this research specialty. Some relevant newer developments in online websites and consumer genetic testing are also highlighted.

Dean Henry began focusing on his family’s genealogy in the late 1980’s. Since retiring from a career in Information Technology in 2013, he has consulted as a professional genealogist and cybersecurity leader. He established Family Pearl LLC (familypearl.com) with specialities focusing African American Genealogy, and Genealogy Technology. Dean’s current volunteer activities include Executive Board member for the African American Genealogy Group (aagg.org); Board of Management member for the Philadelphia Continental Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (pccsar.org); and Auditor General for the recently formed Society of First African Families of English America (sofafea.org). He is also a member and past Treasurer for Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (gpa-apg.weebly.com), and is a member of the Sons and Daughters of the US Middle Passage (sdusmp.org). Dean received a Bachelors degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters degree from La Salle University. He is a graduate chapter member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity incorporated (apa1906.net), which he joined as an undergraduate in 1972.

While it is possible for you to analyze your DNA matches one at a time to determine how you are related, there is much that can be accomplished by first identifying the connections between those on your match list, organizing those matches, and then working together to determine how you are related to each other. Learn the tips and tricks to this powerful method of match analysis.

Diahan Southard is a leading voice for consumer DNA testing from her position as Founder of Your DNA Guide. Diahan teaches internationally, consults with leading testing companies and forensics experts. Southard’s company, Your DNA Guide (YourDNAGuide.com), deploys a team of scientists who provide one-on-one genetic genealogy education and research services. You will walk away from an interaction with her enlightened and motivated as she has a passion for genetic genealogy, a genuine love for people, and a gift for making the technical understandable.

Have you ever thought you might have Quaker ancestors? Have you ever been told you have Quaker ancestors? Have you tried finding your Quaker relatives, but gotten stumped by Quaker jargon? Come hear a discussion of Quaker archives, particularly in the Philadelphia area, to learn about how to use these resources. Mary will also discuss the over 8 million Quaker documents in Ancestry.com and how best to use those resources.

Mary Crauderueff is the Curator of Quaker Collections in the Haverford College Quaker andSpecial Collections. She is an alum of Earlham College (’07) and the University of Maryland, College Park (’09), where she earned her Masters in Library Science, with a specialization in Archives, Records, and Information Management. Since 2009, she has worked for a variety of archives and organizations in the Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Boston areas. She returned to the Philadelphia area in June 2015 to begin this position.

Mary works with researchers of all kinds, including students, faculty, genealogists, and otheracademics. She fosters relationships with donors who donate materials to the collections, and she works directly with the materials in the collection in order to make it more accessible. One of her favorite parts of her job is working with classes to show the amazing collections Haverford holds to another generation of researchers!

In her free time she likes to hike in the Wissahickon with her friends, take pictures of and drink coffee, and find ways to fight white supremacy, transphobia, and patriarchy.

Cemeteries can be peaceful places and a treasure trove of genealogical information. Learn how to evaluate tombstones and explore for other types of cemetery records

Amy Johnson Crow is the founder and lead educator at Generations Connection and is the host of the popular Generations Café podcast. She is the author of 31 Days to Better Genealogy, a resource guide filled with practical tips you can put into practice right away, as well as more than 40 articles in various genealogical publications. Amy has presented at genealogy’s top events. Amy also created the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge.

Amy holds a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from Kent State University. She has worked at Ancestry.com, served as the series editor for the National Genealogical Society Guides, published by Rutledge Hill Press, and was the co-author of Online Roots in that series.

Amy has never turned down an offer to go visit a cemetery.

You can find more genealogy tips on her website AmyJohnsonCrow.com

Have you Truly Hit a Genealogy Brick Wall? And If You Have, How Can You Break through It?

Nothing is more frustrating when researching family history than hitting a genealogy Brick Wall. Often, though, the answer is easier than you think, or the problem you have isn’t actually a brick wall. In this program we will examine the different reasons why researchers believe they have hit Brick Walls and what they can do to break through them. We will examine real cases submitted by Main Line Genealogy Club members and show the strategies needed to solve their family mysteries.

Sydney F. Cruice is a professional genealogy researcher, educator and national lecturer with over 25 years of experience. She has served as a faculty member for the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research of the Georgia Genealogical Society and the Researching Family in Pennsylvania Institute of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. She is currently a faculty member for the Salt Lake City Genealogy Institute of the Utah Genealogical Society. For the past seven years, she developed the curriculum and taught the Foundations of Genealogy courses at Historical Society of Pennsylvania. She is the current President of the Association of Professional Genealogists for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter.

Audiences love this interactive lecture on discovering who’s who in their family pictures. They’ll learn 10 easy steps for naming those unidentified pictures tucked away in shoeboxes.

Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective® is sought out by clients all over the world to help them solve their photo mysteries. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Join Maureen each week as she discusses historical photos and how they fit into your family history on her podcast, The Photo Detective. From ancestor identification to photo preservation, it covers it all. Featuring special experts from genealogy, fashion history, photo history, and photo restoration.

Note: Maureen will be joining us via Zoom, not in person.

What did your ancestor do to support the American cause? Whether you’re looking to document service for the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution or simply to learn more about your family’s past, this program will help you find out.

The program will be divided into two subsections. The first section will focus on federal level sources that can be used document service, such as compiled military service records, pension files, and more. The second section will describe some of the state level sources, including tax records.

Bryna O’Sullivan is a Middletown, CT based professional genealogist and French to English genealogical translator. As proprietor of Charter Oak Genealogy, she specializes in lineage society applications.

Learn how to extract the exact information you need from German church records – without needing to speak German. Whether you are working with column church records or paragraph church records (or both!), you’ll discover where to find – and how to read – the important words that will tell you all about your German ancestor. Get ready to make the most out of any records you find!

Katherine Schober is a German-English genealogy speaker, author, and translator, specializing in the old German handwriting. She is the author of “The Magic of German Church Records” and “Tips and Tricks of Deciphering German Handwriting”, as well as the creator of the online courses “Reading the Old German Handwriting” and “German for Genealogists”. Katherine lives in Bend, Oregon with her Austrian husband and baby boy, and can be reached via e-mail at katherine_schober@germanologyunlocked.com or at her website https://germanologyunlocked.com/.

More to come on this presentation…

Sydney F. Cruice Dixon is a professional genealogist, writer and lecturer practicing in the Mid-Atlantic Region. She holds an MBA from Drexel University and a BA from Penn State University. She is the current resident of the Association of Professional Genealogists for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter, and she serves on the Genealogy Advisory Committee for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Also, at the Historical Society, she developed the curriculum and teaches the Foundations of Genealogy courses and she is a member of their faculty for the Researching Family in Pennsylvania Institute. In the spring of 2017 she cofounded the Greater Philadelphia Genealogy Consortium – an organization that encourages the growth and cooperation between genealogy and historical organizations in the greater Philadelphia area (currently 33 member organizations). Just this October, the National Genealogical Society featured Sydney’s article, A Family Secret: Desertion, Scurvy, and President Lincoln as the cover story for NGS Magazine. Also, she has appeared on our local NBC-10 news television station with Randy Gyllenhaal discussing at home DNA testing kits.

Power users of Ancestry are aware of the many features and tools available to help organize their family history research, collaborate with others, and continue to make meaningful discoveries. Join Crista Cowan for a look at some of the feature you might not know even exist.

Crista Cowan has been employed by Ancestry.com since 2004; her involvement in family history, however, reaches all the way back to childhood.  From being parked under a microfilm reader at the Family History Library in her baby carrier to her current career as a professional genealogist, Crista has spent thousands of hours discovering, documenting and telling family stories.

In her time at Ancestry she has been a European Content Acquisition Manager, the Digital Preservation Indexing Manager and the Community Alliance Manager for the Ancestry World
Archives Project.  For the past several years she has been the Corporate Genealogist, with responsibilities for speaking and teaching at genealogy conferences around the world and helping with family history research for public relations stories.  Known online as The Barefoot Genealogist with a weekly internet show designed to help people discover their family history.

What happens when a “tech guy” with a love for history gets laid off during The Great Recession of 2008? You get Thomas MacEntee, a genealogy professional based in the United States who is also a blogger, educator, author, social media connector, online community builder and more. Thomas has over 42 years of experience researching family history.

Thomas was laid off after a 25-year career in the information technology field, so he started his own genealogy-related business called High Definition Genealogy . Currently Thomas shares many of his articles and videos for free at Genealogy Bargains.com !

Thomas describes himself as a lifelong learner with a background in a multitude of topics who has finally figured out what he does best: teach, inspire, instigate, and serve as a curator and go-to-guy for concept nurturing and inspiration. Thomas is a big believer in success, and that we all succeed when we help each other find success.

Suzanne is an Accredited Genealogist® with nearly 20 years of professional genealogical research experience. She earned concurrent bachelor’s degrees in English and in family history and genealogy at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. She also completed extensive graduate studies in education at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. She has conducted research in various archives across Europe, and she has contributed to several publications and given various presentations across the country and abroad. Suzanne is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) and the Utah Genealogical Association (UGA). She also heads a subcommittee within the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen).

Like many genealogists, Suzanne started her training by researching her own family, a curiosity inspired by both her mother and her great grandmother (and namesake). She is particularly fond of general U.S. research, from modern to various historical eras, and identifying immigrant origins. She is highly skilled in reading old handwriting, especially German fonts and scripts. She is trained in Spanish, German, and Latin languages, and dabbles in various others. She looks forward to helping tell your family stories.

The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree. She writes, teaches and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical topics, ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. A Colorado native with roots
deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side, she holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a political science minor from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a law degree from Rutgers
School of Law-Newark. Before she retired, she worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor and, for more than 20 years, was an adjunct member of the faculty at Rutgers Law
School.

She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society and numerous state and regional genealogical societies. She has written for the National Genealogical Society Quarterly (from which she received the 2017 Award of Excellence), the National Genealogical Society Magazine, the FGS Forum, BCG’s OnBoard, and Family Tree Magazine, among other publications. On the faculty of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute, and the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Board for Certification of Genealogists ® , from which she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist ® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠. Her award-winning blog appears at The Legal Genealogist website ( http://www.legalgenealogist.com )..

The One-Step website [ https://stevemorse.org/ ] started out as an aid for finding passengers in the Ellis Island database. Shortly afterwards it was expanded to help with searching
in the 1930 census. Over the years it has continued to evolve and today includes about 300 web-based tools divided into 16 separate categories ranging from genealogical searches to astronomical calculations to lastminute bidding on e-bay. This presentation will describe the range of tools available and give the highlights of each one. This talk has been delivered 192 times (as of  Aug 7, 2021)
Stephen Morse is the creator of the One-Step Website for which he has received both the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution Award from the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies, Award of Merit from the National Genealogical Society, first-ever Excellence Award from the Association of Professional Genealogists, and two awards that he cannot pronounce from Polish genealogical societies. In his other life Morse is a computer professional with a doctorate degree in electrical engineering. He has held various research, development, and teaching positions, authored numerous technical papers, written four textbooks, and holds four patents. He is best known as the architect of the Intel 8086 (the granddaddy of today’s Pentium processor), which sparked the PC revolution 40 years ago.

Pin down your elusive immigrant ancestor’s place of origin using some well-known – and lesser-known –
record sets, ideas, and techniques.

Immigrant ancestors can give us quite the challenge when trying to find their exact place of origin. The endless “Ireland” notations or “Italy” listed as place of birth can drive genealogists, both beginner and expert alike, mad. This presentation delves into various and diverse records that are found stateside so as to narrow down that search, as well as ideas for when the paper trail continually runs cold. The main suspects will be discussed, as will numerous lesser-known and lesser-used records. A (non-exhaustive) sample of some of the record sets covered:
• Ship manifests
• Naturalization records
• Vital records
• World War I/World War II draft registration cards
• Church records
• County histories
• Probate files
• Ethnic record sets

Rich Venezia is a New Jersey native who now calls Philadelphia home. He founded Rich Roots Genealogy in 2013. He was a member of the research team of Genealogy Roadshow (PBS) for two seasons, and also consulted on Follow Your Past (Travel Channel). He is an expert in the research of 20th-century immigrant ancestors, especially underutilized record sources and federal records. He also specializes in Italian and Irish research. Additionally, he assists clients with dual citizenship applications for Ireland and Italy, and is a proud Italian dual citizen. He holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. He lectures nationwide, and spoke about “How to Grow Empathy From Uncovering Your Roots” at TEDx Pittsburgh 2017.

In this talk Chris Paton, author of Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records, takes us to pre-19th century Scotland, when things begin to get a little more complicated with our ancestral research. From Kirk to state, a variety of records are available, but it’s one thing to find them, and quite another to understand them, with different handwriting styles, language problems and the feudal nature of Scottish society forming some of the many challenges that make earlier Scottish research fun but challenging. Chris will explore the various record types available, and how to access them both online and offline.

Originally from Northern Ireland, but with both Scottish and Irish roots, Chris holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde, and today works as a professional genealogist, running his research service from the Scottish coastal town of Irvine, North Ayrshire.

As well as teaching Scottish based courses for Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd (www.pharostutors.com) he has also tutored for the University of Strathclyde’s Genealogical Studies Postgraduate Programme. In addition he is a published author of several genealogy book titles and guides (see https://scotlandsgreateststory.wordpress.com/books) and is a regular contributor to genealogy magazines in the UK and Ireland, such as Who Do You Think You Are?, Family Tree, and Discover Your Ancestors, as well as the ISBGFH’s British Connections.

Since October 2012 he has been a regular attendee of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni) stakeholder forum, and from May 2013-May 2017 he was a director of the Scottish Archive Network Ltd trust (www.scan.org.uk). He previously worked as a researcher, producer and director for 12 years in factual television for both the BBC (Bristol and Glasgow) and STV, on various documentary series, including Coast, Meet the Ancestors, Secret History, War Walks and Time Flyers.

FamilySearch.org has millions of images on its website, many of which are unindexed and not searchable.  But if you know how to get into the catalog and browse around, you can find images of birth and death certificates, naturalization papers, deeds, wills, estate inventories and more.  And FamilySearch is adding more and more such images every month.  To take advantage of this ever-increasing bounty, it’s important to know how to find these types of records

Mary Kircher Roddy, Certified Genealogist, is also a Certified Public Accountant. She lectures in Washington State and across the US, and is a regular presenter for LegacyFamilyTree Webinars.  She has written for Internet Genealogy, NGS Magazine, FGS Forum, Family Chronicle  and The National Genealogical Society Quarterly and numerous society publications.  Mary currently serves as Treasurer for the Association of Professional Genealogists.  She is also a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists.  You can read more about her at MKR Genealogy – www.mkrgenealogy.com

This year, we will use a workshop format involving all attendees. Come prepared with information about your “brick wall” and be prepared to share your genealogical knowledge with others. Attendees will be divided into small groups facilitated by a planning committee member. Each group will select one or more group member’s questions and refine them using a structured approach, covering, for example:

• Defining the genealogical question
• Crafting a research plan
• Identifying potential sources of importance

This is a chance for you to actively participate in a real genealogical exercise while helping yourself and others at the same time. At the end, each group will report back to the rest of the attendees on their question and approach.

Mike and Cheryl are members of the MLGC Planning Committee and led the effort to create our club website: www.mainlinegenealogy.org. They also maintain and update the website.

Michael Kearney, PhD, is currently a volunteer at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and a member of the planning committee of the Main Line Genealogical Society. He took up these duties following a 44
year career managing large-scale information system projects at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been an active genealogical researcher for more than 25 years and has had work published in the New
England Historical and Genealogical Register and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. His latest work, The Annotated World War I Diaries of Captain George F. Kearney, is now available on Amazon Books. He will be discussing his most recent effort: The Ganges Families History Project (thegangesfamiliesproject.com )

Cheryl Bittner, MBA, has participated in MLGC since retiring in 2005 from a career in information systems program management in the aerospace and pharmaceutical industries. Cheryl credits her interest in family history and genealogy to her great grandmother who started an annual family reunion which has continued for over 100 years. Each reunion starts with a service at a church built on land donated by Cheryl’s ancestors in early 1800’s from their farm, the farm where Cheryl’s paternal grandfather was born and raised.

Workshop Group Notes

Which is not to suggest, as is too often done, that historical truth is never to be attained, in any of its aspects. With this kind of truth, as with all others, the problem is the same: one errs more or less. (Marguerite Yourcenar, Memoirs of Hadrian).

In July 1800, the USS Ganges, patrolling off the coast of Cuba, seized two American slaving vessels and sent them to Philadelphia as prizes. There, the enslaved Africans aboard were freed by the U.S. District Court, given the surname Ganges and indentured out to masters and mistresses in the Philadelphia area. This incident poses a host of questions, both historical and genealogical (although these are really just two aspects of the same thing):

1. What happened to the Ganges?
2. Who was responsible for their enslavement and rescue, and what happened to them?

Answering these questions had required research in a broad variety of records well beyond the usual census, vital and probate records (although these are useful, too): court records, military records, legal records across multiple repositories on three continents. The talk will highlight some of the most interesting questions answered to-date in what has become a multi-year research effort.

Michael Kearney, PhD, is currently a volunteer at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and a member of the planning committee of the Main Line Genealogical Society. He took up these duties following a 44 year career managing large-scale information system projects at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been an active genealogical researcher for more than 25 years and has had work published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. His latest work, The Annotated World War I Diaries of Captain George F. Kearney, is now available on Amazon Books.  He will be discussing his most recent effort: The Ganges Families History Project ( thegangesfamilies.com )

Handout (sources)

In this program we will look at where our ancestors lives intersected with the government and the records that were created from those interactions. We will discuss where to look for your ancestor’s government records, and how important it can be to understand the laws that were in place at the time your ancestor created those records. We will discuss the different types of legal systems and how that can play a major roll in where and how to look for family documents.

Note: this being our first attempt at an online meeting, invitations will be limited to the people on our current email list. You can request to be added to the list by providing your name and email address via the “Contact Us”  link, above. We will send instructions on connecting to the meeting on or after April 8th.

Sydney F. Cruice Dixon is a professional genealogist, writer and lecturer practicing in the Mid-Atlantic Region. She holds an MBA from Drexel University and a BA from Penn State University.  She is the current President of the Association of Professional Genealogists for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter, and she serves on the Genealogy Advisory Committee for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Also, at the Historical Society, she developed the curriculum and teaches the Foundations of Genealogy courses and she is a member of their faculty for the Researching Family in Pennsylvania Institute.  In the spring of 2017 she cofounded the Greater Philadelphia Genealogy Consortium – an organization that encourages the growth and cooperation between genealogy and historical organizations in the greater Philadelphia area (currently 29 member organizations). Last October, the National Genealogical Society featured Sydney’s article, “A Family Secret: Desertion, Scurvy, and President Lincoln” as the cover story for NGS Magazine.  She has also appeared on the local NBC-10 news television station with Randy Gyllenhaal discussing DNA testing kits.

Due to COVIS-19 Social Distancing, we will be holding this meeting online via Zoom, not at the Tredyffrin Library as originally planned.

Trying to stay organized while researching can be a struggle.  Sara explains how placing information into a chart or timeline can better organize your research.  Sorting information into a chart, can also help clarify what further research steps are necessary, if needed.  Placing information into a timeline can visually show what years or locations are necessary to be researched.  By organizing facts into a chart or timeline, the determination can be made if your research has provided enough documentation to answer your genealogical question.

Sara Butson is a researching genealogist who has always had a passion for genealogy.  She found her love for it through heirloom photos, family lore, and tradition.  Sara is in the process of completing ProGen 43.  She is the current Treasurer of the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists and is a member of various local and national genealogical organizations.

Due to COVID-19 Social Distancing, we will be holding this meeting online via Zoom, not at the Easttown Library as originally planned.

Sometimes overwhelming to beginners and sometimes underused by veterans, Cyndi’s List is a research tool that is robust with resources helpful in everyone’s research. Using specific examples for beginners, as well as more advanced researchers, we will explore the site and point out how to make the most of the categories and the links found within.

Cyndi Ingle is the creator and innovator behind the award-winning and globally recognized CyndisList.com, a free categorized list of more than 337,000 links for genealogical research. Cyndi, a genealogist for more than 40 years, has an expertise in using technology for genealogy. Additionally, her many active years in genealogy have also resulted in specialties for research in the United States and bringing together traditional methodology with organization, computers, software, and the Internet.  Cyndi is the recipient of several awards and honors, she has served in several capacities for genealogical organizations, she is an internationally-known guest lecturer, and she has authored numerous articles and three books.

On 11 Nov 1620, the Mayflower and its passengers landed at Plymouth Rock after an arduous 10-week journey from England with 102 passengers and crew of 30.  Do you descend from one of these brave passengers or crew members?  Explore the evidence required to join a lineage society as prestigious as the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, and explore the resources available from the Mayflower Society and New England Historical Society to assist you with this task.

Sandra Rumble is an avid genealogist who has been tracing her family history for nineteen years. Combining her thirty-plus years’ experience in software design with her love of family history, Sandra created GenDetective^® to help genealogists organize, visualize, and plan further research, and The Traveling Genealogist^® trip planning guides. She has coordinated “Documentation for Lineage Societies” at GRIP 2020 and is co-coordinating “Answering the Call of Uncle Same” at GRIP 2021.  Sandra speaks at genealogy conferences about research planning, lineage societies, military records, and other collections. A professional researcher, Sandra’s research focus is Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey from colonial times to the present. A past DAR registrar and Lineage Committee chairperson, Sandra conducts lineage society workshops and has several years of experience helping others research and assemble their membership applications. Sandra teaches introductory family history and DNA classes at Delaware Valley University’s Center for Learning in Retirement

Don’t let your lifetime of genealogy research end up in the landfill!  Lisa Louise Cooke will teach you the 7 key strategies to securing the future of your research including designating a “research keeper,” setting up a Genealogy Materials Directive, and making donations with a Deed of Gift.  Don’t miss this class – your family research legacy depends on it!

Lisa Louise Cooke found her passion for family history at her grandmother’s knee at the age of 8. She is now the owner of Genealogy Gems, a genealogy and family history multi-media company founded in 2007. She is Producer and Host of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, the popular online genealogy audio show available at www.GenealogyGems.com, on your smartphone’s native podcast app, and through the Genealogy Gems app available through Apple’s App Store (iOS) and the Google Play store (Android) Her podcast brings genealogy news, research strategies, expert interviews and inspiration to genealogists in 75 countries around the world, and recently celebrated 3 million downloads!

Lisa is the author of a variety of multi-media offerings including the Genealogy Gems Premium website subscription featuring her classes on video and the Genealogy Gems Premium Podcast (ad free), and four books: The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox, Mobile Genealogy, How to Find Your Family History in Newspapers, and Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies, and the video series Google Earth for Genealogy.

In addition to Genealogy Gems, Lisa is the producer and host of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast, author of the Lisa’s Picks column in Family Tree Magazine, and a curriculum developer and instructor for Family Tree University.

For some genealogy questions, there is no record that will provide the answer. That’s when indirect evidence comes to the rescue. Learn how to use indirect evidence and apply it to your most difficult family research problems.

Sydney F. Cruice Dixon is a professional genealogist, writer and lecturer practicing in the Mid-Atlantic Region. She holds an MBA from Drexel University and a BA from Penn State University. She is the current resident of the Association of Professional Genealogists for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter, and she serves on the Genealogy Advisory Committee for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Also, at the Historical Society, she developed the curriculum and teaches the Foundations of Genealogy courses and she is a member of their faculty for the Researching Family in Pennsylvania Institute. In the spring of 2017 she cofounded the Greater Philadelphia Genealogy Consortium – an organization that encourages the growth and cooperation between genealogy and historical organizations in the greater Philadelphia area (currently 33 member organizations). Just this October, the National Genealogical Society featured Sydney’s article, A Family Secret: Desertion, Scurvy, and President Lincoln as the cover story for NGS Magazine. Also, she has
appeared on our local NBC-10 news television station with Randy Gyllenhaal discussing at home DNA testing kits.

Limited seating! YOU MUST REGISTER: HERE

The Greater Philadelphia Genealogy Consortium Sponsors a Presentation and Demonstration of Family Tree Maker

by Mark Olsen and Kiara Neilsen, Family Tree Maker (FTM) Ambassadors

Thursday, June 27, 2019 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tredyffrin Public Library
582 Upper Gulph Road, Strafford, PA 19087

Suggested $5 donation at door

Mark Olsen is the FTM ambassador to historical and genealogical societies working to support their members as they use FTM; Mark is a graduate of Brigham Young University and holds a BA degree in Family History with a Spanish record emphasis. He has worked in the genealogy industry since 2007.

Kiara Neilsen is a member of the FTM Ambassador team, working with societies to coordinate educational opportunities. She teaches classes regarding the use of FTM, DNA and how to use DNA results to further genealogical research. Kiara has been working in the genealogy industry since 2014.

Print the Flyer

Hosted by Main Line Genealogy Club & Tredyffrin Public Library

Members of the Greater Philadelphia Genealogy Consortium supporting this event:

• Association of Professional Genealogists – Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter – www.gpa-apg.org
• Bucks County Genealogical Society – www.bucksgen.org
• Chester County Historical Society – www.chestercohistorical.org
• Delaware Afro – American Historical & Genealogical Society – www.deaahgs.com
• Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia – www.jgsgp.org
• Main Line Genealogy Club – www.mainlinegenealogy.org
• Old York Road Genealogical Society – www.oyrgs.org

“Using Genealogy Tools for Your House History Research” by Paul Campbell-Trimbur

Did you ever wonder: “What is the origin of your home and property?”, “Who lived there before you?”  or “What did your neighborhood look like in 1900?” Paul Campbell-Trimbur will explain how to research to answer these questions.

Members may request a copy of the presentation handout via the “Contact Us” link at the top of the page.. Please note that handouts provided are the exclusive property of the author and are provided as a private service to you, the members of the Main Line Genealogy Club.  Please do not share this or any other handouts with anyone else.

We first met “Cousin Russ” Worthington at our Family Tree Maker presentation in June. We were so impressed with his knowledge of both genealogical research and the Family Tree Maker(FTM) software, we asked him to join us in October. The  program will give you a solid foundation in the use of FTM and help you begin to take full advantage of what it has to offer:

1. Why is it is good to have your tree on your own software?
2. What are the top software packages currently available?
3. Why choose FTM? Brief history of FTM, relationship with Ancestry and current structure.
4. What are the basic capabilities within FTM?
5. What are the features that make it stand apart?
6. How do I get FTM?
7. How do I install FTM?
8. How do I get started?
9. Educational resources…

Our Speaker:
Russ Worthington has become known at “Cousin Russ” and is indeed a real cousin of “Dear Myrtle”, Pat Richley-Erickson. He says of himself: “Most folks know me to be a Family Tree Maker expert, a bit overstated, but an avid user. I am serious about locating and using “original documents” as a family history researcher, a student of genealogical methodology, a Find-A-Grave volunteer, a public speaker and a user of technology in my research. I served in the US Coast Guard in Vietnam. I first met ‘DearMYRTLE’  listening to her old podcasts while I commuted to and from work, but we didn’t meet until years later. She was demonstrating a genealogy software program and I piped up that I had the same early Welsh Quakers in Philadelphia and Chester County, Pennsylvania. It is my honor to work with DearMYRTLE with the production the DearMYRTLE online education programs.”

Presentation Handout

Sometimes newspapers are the only remaining evidence…. They can answer genealogical questions when no other records are available. Newspapers are one of the most overlooked resources – treasures waiting to be discovered!

Sydney F. Cruice Dixon is a professional genealogist, writer and lecturer practicing in the Mid-Atlantic Region. She holds an MBA from Drexel University and a BA from Penn State University. She is the current resident of the Association of Professional Genealogists for the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter, and she serves on the Genealogy Advisory Committee for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Also, at the Historical Society, she developed the curriculum and teaches the Foundations of Genealogy courses and she is a member of their faculty for the Researching Family in Pennsylvania Institute. In the spring of 2017 she cofounded the Greater Philadelphia Genealogy Consortium – an organization that encourages the growth and cooperation between genealogy and historical organizations in the greater Philadelphia area (currently 33 member organizations). Just this October, the National Genealogical Society featured Sydney’s article, A Family Secret: Desertion, Scurvy, and President Lincoln as the cover story for NGS Magazine. Also, she has appeared on our local NBC-10 news television station with Randy Gyllenhaal discussing at home DNA testing kits.

Holiday season will be here soon. Looking for a gift for a family member or yourself/wish list? Paul will explain the different DNA tests available, compare DNA web sites and tell how DNA can help your genealogy research/brick walls. DNA test discounts for the holiday season will be shared at the meeting.

The U.S. Geology Survey (USGS) has been publishing maps since 1879. Maps, and newer publications such as aerial photographs and on-line tools are valuable resources for genealogical research. Maps place your ancestors on the ground and let you examine surrounding physical features. Map features reflect property boundaries and road systems of long ago. USGS maps retain cemetery locations, including farm cemeteries on private property. In addition to (free) maps, the USGS web site offers many resources that apply to genealogical research. The site provides aerial photographs, historic aerial photos, and historical topographic maps.

Our speaker, Gerald H. “Jerry” Smith, CG, is a full-time professional Certified Genealogist specializing in Pennsylvania research. He has been a course coordinator for IGHR (Land Platting) and a faculty member for other IGHR courses and SLIG. He is the author of a number of books and journal articles. He researches extensively on projects requiring in-depth knowledge of proprietor and Commonwealth land records, mapping, and land placement. Regular research venues include the Pennsylvania Archives, State Library of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Law Library, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, military repositories (including David Library of the American Revolution and US Army Military History Institute), National Archives, religious and denominational repositories, county courthouses, and county and local historical and genealogical societies. Southern Pennsylvania border county research includes frequent on-site research at repositories in Annapolis, Baltimore, Maryland counties, West Virginia, and Virginia. Jerry is a qualified expert witness in genealogy.

The program

Google recently celebrated its 20th birthday and it’s safe to say that it has changed the way everyone finds things out. While allowing you to search literally trillions of documents, as with any other search method, Google presents its own set of challenges to genealogical researchers. In the talk, we will review:

• How the internet is structured
• What Google searches and what it doesn’t
• Exact vs inexact searches
• Logical grouping of search terms — excluding search terms;
• Searching specific sites
• Wild cards
• Date ranges

Plus, we give you a tour of the new Main Line Genealogy Club website.

Our speakers

Cheryl Bittner, BA-Econ, MBA-Finance, is a retired Information Technology professional.  Cheryl started her career as a systems programmer with IBM and retired as a partner with Computer Sciences Corporation.  She spent 36 years in various technology and management roles with the majority of her work in the aerospace and pharmaceutical industries.  Cheryl has been active in Main Line Genealogy Club since retiring in 2005 and has served on the planning committee since its inception.  Cheryl has researched all 16 of her family lines back to her 2nd great grandparents.  Thanks to the genealogy interests of Cheryl’s great grandmother, one family line is researched back to the 1500s in Germany.  The descendants of  that great grandmother have held an annual family reunion for 103 years at the location of the original family farm in upstate Pennsylvania.

Michael Kearney, PhD, joined MLGC’s planning committee after retiring from a 44 year career managing large-scale information system projects at the University of Pennsylvania. He has been an active genealogical researcher for more than 25 years and has had work published in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. His latest work, The Annotated World War I Diaries of Captain George F. Kearney, is now available on Amazon Books.