Description
Start your genealogy journey on the right foot with this week-long online workshop. You'll learn the tricks and tools to produce quality, accurate research and avoid the rookie mistakes and common roadblocks that plague many family historians.
DATE: August 14, 2023 - August 20, 2023
Discovering your family’s unique story is like solving a puzzle. You’ll fit together bits and pieces from relatives’ memories, old records and photographs to create a picture of the past. When you’re a family history newbie, the prospect of diving into your roots research can seem overwhelming. In this week-long workshop for beginners, we’ll walk you through the basics of genealogy research: what records to look for, how to organize. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way on the fun and rewarding journey of discovering your roots.
In this week-long workshop for beginners, we’ll walk you through the basics of genealogy research: what records to look for, how to organize. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way on the fun and rewarding journey of discovering your roots.
In this course, you’ll learn:
- How to conduct family interviews
- Best practices for record keeping
- What types of records to look for
- How to start your search using software and/or online tools
- How to use federal and state records to extend your family tree
Course Outline
Lesson 1: Family History Basics
- What Do You Already Know?
- Interview Your Relatives
- Keeping Track
- List of Surnames
- Pedigree Chart
- Family Group Sheet
- Genealogy Glossary
- How Are Your Related?
- Establishing Goals
Lesson 2: Finding the Right Research Tools
- Using Genealogy Software
- Online Trees
- Citing Sources
- Starting Your Search
Lesson 3: Records to Extend Your Family Tree
- Federal and State Census Records
- Vital Records
- Newspapers
- City Directories
- Immigration Records
- Land Records
In addition to the written lessons, the course includes premium articles from FamilyTreeMagazine.com and several webinars from our archive.
About the Instructor
Gena Philibert-Ortega holds a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s degree in Religion. Presenting on various subjects involving genealogy, women’s studies, and social history, Gena has spoken to groups throughout the United States and virtually to audiences worldwide. Gena is the author of hundreds of articles published online and in print. Her books include Cemeteries of the Eastern Sierra (Arcadia Publishing, 2007) and From the Family Kitchen (F+W Media, 2012). Her current research interests include social history, community cookbooks, signature quilts, and researching women’s lives.
How do Family Tree University workshops work?
Take the course at your own pace!
From the course start date, you’ll be able to log in to view and access your lessons and start interacting on the discussion boards. Your instructor will check in regularly to answer all of the questions and provide feedback. You will have access to your courses anytime, anywhere, with a computer, tablet or smartphone, and can study when it's most convenient for you.
After the course end date, the course will become read-only for one year. You will continue to have access through your dashboard to the materials, but the discussion boards will be closed. The materials are yours to keep. You can download them onto your desktop to access online or offline.
