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Explore my current presentation offerings below. Many programs are also available as interactive two-hour workshops.
Genealogists’ Favorites
Google My Maps” Visualizing Your Ancestors’ Lives
Discover the power of Google My Maps, an essential tool within the Google app suite, for visualizing your ancestors’ lives. From mapping migration patterns and cemetery locations to planning research trips and validating historical documents,
Google My Maps offers a dynamic way to bring your genealogical research to life. In this presentation, you will learn the basic features of Google My Maps and how to use it to create rich, visual stories of your ancestors’ journeys and experiences. Start transforming your genealogical data into interactive maps and uncover new insights into your family history.
Defined by the Land: Navigating Metes and Bounds in Land Platting
Learn the fundamentals of the metes and bounds land description system used in State Land States. This session introduces key terminology, tools, and techniques for interpreting and plotting land deeds. Participants will learn to recreate historical plats, visualize property boundaries, and connect land descriptions with modern or historical maps.
Deciphering Pre-1850 Census Records: Turning Tick Marks into People
Unlock the secrets of pre-1850 census records in this informative presentation. Discover how to decode tick marks from 1790 to 1840 using an automated Excel spreadsheet for efficient collection and analysis. Learn strategies to cross-reference with later censuses (1850, 1860, and 1870) to assign names and reconstruct families. Gain insights into validating your findings and ensuring accuracy in identifying ancestral records. Attendees will receive a complimentary automated Excel worksheet to jumpstart their research, making this session essential for genealogists looking to bridge gaps in their family tree.
Reconstructing World War I Army Service Records: Unraveling Ancestral Stories Through Unit Records
In this one-hour presentation, we delve into the fascinating world of World War I army service records and explore the invaluable role of unit records in reconstructing the journeys of our ancestors who served. Discover how unit records provide a rich tapestry of information, offering insights into individual experiences, battles fought, and sacrifices made during this pivotal period in history.
By exploring the wealth of information contained within unit records, attendees will gain valuable insights into reconstructing World War I army service records and honoring the legacies of their military ancestors. This presentation aims to empower genealogists with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of wartime research and preserve the stories of those who served.
AI Webinars
Gemini Notebook for Genealogists: Organizing Research with AI
(formerly named Google NotebookLM) Discover how Gemini Notebook can enhance genealogy research. Learn to upload sources, analyze complex documents, generate summaries, and connect evidence using AI-powered notebooks. Ideal for genealogists managing large collections, this session demonstrates practical strategies to organize records, uncover insights, and streamline family history research using powerful, free technology tools.
Ask Better, Find More: The Genealogist’s Guide to Powerful AI Prompts
Learn how to turn vague AI requests into clear, focused prompts that produce useful, reliable results. This session breaks down prompt structure, context, constraints, examples, and refinement techniques so attendees can guide AI tools with confidence, reduce frustration, improve accuracy, and save time in research, writing, planning, and everyday tasks.
Software/Website Webinars
Plotting Ancestral Land: An Introduction to Deed Mapper for Genealogical Research
This lecture introduces genealogists to Deed Mapper, a powerful software program designed to plot and analyze Metes and Bounds land descriptions. Participants will learn how to input data from historical deeds, troubleshoot common challenges, and generate visual representations of land parcels. By the end of the presentation, attendees will have a basic working knowledge of Deed Mapper and its applications for genealogical research.
Google My Maps” Visualizing Your Ancestors’ Lives
Discover the power of Google My Maps, an essential tool within the Google app suite, for visualizing your ancestors’ lives. From mapping migration patterns and cemetery locations to planning research trips and validating historical documents.
Google My Maps offers a dynamic way to bring your genealogical research to life. In this presentation, you will learn the basic features of Google My Maps and how to use it to create rich, visual stories of your ancestors’ journeys and experiences. Start transforming your genealogical data into interactive maps and uncover new insights into your family history.
MS WORD Tips and Tricks for Genealogists
Stop struggling with formatting and work smarter, not harder. This session masters Microsoft Word for professional genealogy writing. Discover how Styles automate formatting, Quick Parts create citation templates, and Footnotes ensure accuracy. Boost productivity using expert shortcuts and ribbon customization to streamline research
MS EXCEL Essentials for Genealogists: An Introduction to Organizing Your Family History
This one-hour presentation aims to equip genealogists with the fundamental Excel skills necessary to evaluate their family history data. Whether you are just starting or looking to streamline your research process, this session will cover the basics of Excel tailored specifically for genealogical tasks.
By the end of the presentation, attendees will have a solid understanding of how to leverage Excel to organize, analyze, and visualize their family history data. With these foundational skills, genealogists can enhance their research process and uncover new insights into their ancestral heritage.
Genealogy in the Digital Age: Leveraging Free Tools to Work Smarter, Not Harder
We will explore how genealogists can enhance their research, organization, and writing using a range of free technology tools. Designed for both novice and experienced genealogists who are looking to optimize their efforts without breaking the bank. We will cover four key areas: organization, research, writing, and plotting land deeds, showcasing specific programs, extensions, and apps that can streamline your work and improve efficiency.
Exploring Un-indexed Records with Family Search Labs: Unlocking Hidden Gems in Genealogical Research.
In this one-hour presentation, participants will explore the powerful tools available through FamilySearch Labs, with a special focus on utilizing full-text search features to uncover hidden records. Attendees will learn how to access and navigate FamilySearch Labs, an experimental platform offering advanced tools to enhance genealogical research.
The presentation will cover best practices for using full-text search, a feature that scans not just indexes but entire documents for keywords, names, and places, making it easier to find elusive records. By examining real-world examples, genealogists will see how this feature can reveal obscure details in probate records, land deeds, and other document types that are often missed in traditional searches.
Additionally, we will discuss strategies for refining searches to avoid overwhelming results and identify the most relevant records efficiently. This session is ideal for genealogists seeking to deepen their research techniques and leverage cutting-edge technology to break through brick walls in their family history research.
Scrivener
One Note
Library Thing
Military Webinars
Reconstructing World War I Army Service Records: Unraveling Ancestral Stories Through Unit Records
In this one-hour presentation, we delve into the fascinating world of World War I army service records and explore the invaluable role of unit records in reconstructing the journeys of our ancestors who served. Discover how unit records provide a rich tapestry of information, offering insights into individual experiences, battles fought, and sacrifices made during this pivotal period in history.
By exploring the wealth of information contained within unit records, attendees will gain valuable insights into reconstructing World War I army service records and honoring the legacies of their military ancestors. This presentation aims to empower genealogists with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the complexities of wartime research and preserve the stories of those who served.
Native American Webinars
Unraveling the Threads of Native American Treaties: Exploring Their Impact on Genealogy
Explore the role of Native American treaties in genealogical research. This presentation examines how treaties influenced tribal land, membership, and resources, and demonstrates how key treaty records can reveal family histories, tribal affiliations, and broader historical context, providing valuable insights for tracing Native American ancestry.
Exploring Native American Research: Records beyond the Dawes Roll
Explore essential Native American rolls for genealogical research with Linda Debe. This presentation covers their historical context, types, and contents—including tribal rolls, federal censuses, and records tracking membership, lineage, and property. Attendees will learn how to trace ancestry, confirm tribal affiliation, reconnect family ties, and access key archives and online databases.
Unlocking Ancestral Legacies: Navigating the National Archives for Native American Genealogy
Gain an understanding of the records available on the NARA website and explore them: Schools, allotments, apps and case files, Correspondence files, probate records. Become familiar with NARA’s Native American finding aids. Understand the vast Native American records at NARA and how to access them
Finding Aids and Obscure Records for Native American Records
Explore lesser-known sources for Native American genealogy, including government records, books, libraries, museums, and specialized archives. Learn how to search Ancestry and FamilySearch catalogs effectively, identify overlooked collections, evaluate relevant record sets, and locate additional materials that can expand research beyond commonly used databases and familiar online resources and repositories.
Bureau of Indian Affairs History
Organization Webinars
From Cluttered to Command: Writing a Personal Genealogy Research Guide
Learn to transform everyday genealogy research habits into clear, repeatable standard operating procedures. This syllabus explains how to define scope, document tools and decision rules, manage exceptions, verify files and citations, preserve completed work, test workflows, and maintain version control so research remains consistent, understandable, reproducible, and transferable over time.
From Cluttered to Command: Mastering Digital File Organization for Genealogists
Discover practical strategies to organize digital files and streamline your PC workflow. Learn to efficiently categorize and manage downloads, ensuring quick retrieval of documents. This session helps genealogists and researchers optimize their digital workspace, maintain clarity in archives, and effortlessly access any file, improving efficiency and overall research productivity.
When You Don’t Sync: Tracking Documents Between Online Trees and Desktop Software
Keeping up with the enormous amounts of documents and images from Ancestry and other online databases can become overwhelming. Use this simple but effective process to see at a glance what you have downloaded or added to a software program that doesn’t sync. Now you can visually see where you are in your research on each person’s profile.
Records Webinars
Abstracts, Extracts, and Transcriptions: Unlocking Document Clarity in Genealogy
Dive into the world of genealogical document management with this comprehensive presentation. Explore the purposes of abstracts, extracts, and transcriptions, and gain clarity on their distinctions and importance in genealogical research. Learn how these tools not only enhance document readability but also adhere to industry standards, ensuring that your research is accessible and comprehensible to others. Whether you are new to genealogy or seeking to refine your research practices, this session will equip you with essential skills to effectively manage and share your findings with precision and clarity
Defined by the Land: Navigating Metes and Bounds in Land Platting
Learn the fundamentals of the metes and bounds land description system used in State Land States. This session introduces key terminology, tools, and techniques for interpreting and plotting land deeds. Participants will learn to recreate historical plats, visualize property boundaries, and connect land descriptions with modern or historical maps.
Deciphering Pre-1850 Census Records: Turning Tick Marks into People
Unlock the secrets of pre-1850 census records in this informative presentation. Discover how to decode tick marks from 1790 to 1840 using an automated Excel spreadsheet for efficient collection and analysis. Learn strategies to cross-reference with later censuses (1850, 1860, and 1870) to assign names and reconstruct families. Gain insights into validating your findings and ensuring accuracy in identifying ancestral records. Attendees will receive a complimentary automated Excel worksheet to jumpstart their research, making this session essential for genealogists looking to bridge gaps in their family tree.