Utah Genealogical Association

From Sea to Shining Sea: Researching Our Ancestors' Migrations in America

Week 1

Records & Resources

Annette Burke Lyttle

The goal of this course is to help researchers understand how to find their migrating ancestors, who often seem to disappear as they moved, and how to fill in the rich details of their lives.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of migration routes—typical and not-so-typical—across the American continent, the modes of travel our ancestors used, and the factors that influenced their movements. That understanding will serve as a basis for in-depth examination of available records for our migrating ancestors and how and where to find those records. Case studies will demonstrate how to put the history and research principles into action. Optional homework assignments will provide an opportunity for students to apply their learning to their own troublesome ancestors.

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Level of Instruction

Intermediate to Advanced

Suggested Requirements

This course has no specific prerequisites, but students should have done sufficient research on multiple ancestral lines to be prepared to delve deeply into finding the records and stories of their own migrating ancestors.

The optional homework will provide opportunities for students to apply what they’re learning to the research challenges they face with their own migrating ancestors. Students should assemble information on ancestors whose migrations they wish to learn more about and bring it with them in a form that will be easy for them to work with.

The ability to do online research is necessary for the optional homework assignments.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Class Introductions and Orientation: Why We Study Migration	Lyttle
8:30–9:45 am	Overview of Migration to North America and Major U.S. Routes	Lyttle
10:15–11:30 am	Early Migration Routes and Modes of Travel	Lyttle
1:00–2:15 pm	The Influence of Advertising on Migration	Lyttle
2:45–4:00 pm	The Influence of Free and Cheap Land on Migration	Lyttle
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment: Explore how advertising and/or land availability influenced ancestral migration	Lyttle
Tuesday
8:00–8:30 am	Homework Review	Lyttle
8:30–9:45 am	The Influence of War on Migration	Lyttle
10:15–11:30 am	Migrating for Freedom	Wilkins
1:00–2:15 pm	Economic Influences on Migration	Willson
2:45–4:00 pm	Chain Migration: Following Friends and Family	Wilkins
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment: Explore how war, freedom, or economic difficulties influenced ancestral migration	Lyttle
Wednesday
8:00–8:30 am	Homework Review	Lyttle
8:30–9:45 am	19th Century Trails	Morrison
10:15–11:30 am	19th Century Roads	Lyttle
1:00–2:15 pm	19th Century Waterways	Stuart-Warren
2:45–4:00 pm	19th Century Railroads	Stuart-Warren
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment: Explore ancestral migrations by trail, road, waterway, and/or railroad	Lyttle
Thursday
8:00–8:30 am	Homework Review	Lyttle
8:30–9:45 am	20th Century Migration	Wilkins
10:15–11:30 am	Records of Travelers	Willson
1:00–2:15 pm	Records of Workers	Stuart-Warren
2:45–4:00 pm	Records of Service Providers	Willson
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment: Find ancestors in records of travelers, workers, and/or service providers	Lyttle
Friday
8:00–8:30 am	Homework Review	Lyttle
8:30–9:45 am	Case Study: An Unusual Migration	Morrison
10:15–11:30 am	Case Study: Migrating for Freedom	Wilkins
1:00–2:15 pm	Case Study: Migrating for Economic Reasons	Willson
2:45–4:00 pm	Case Study: Migrating for Land	Lyttle

Advanced Techniques for Mastering Online Searches and Uncovering Digital Records

Week 1

Records & Resources

D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS

Explore the world of digitized records and repositories. This course specifically teaches advanced search skills for subscription family history websites while also focusing on unindexed digitized materials from libraries, archives, museums, and other repositories across the United States. A series of hands-on workshops/labs provide students with guided experiences using online tools discussed during class sessions.

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Level of Instruction

Advanced

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:30–9:45 am	What CAN You Find Online? As we begin our week, let us dive into a discussion of what is online for genealogical research. We will briefly explore multiple elements of our online world, including search engines, subscription websites, social media, libraries and archives, private projects, and everything in-between.	Taylor
10:15–11:30 am	Avoiding the Ad-Hoc Clicks: Your Online Research Plan Genealogical research requires careful planning and execution. Before taking a more in-depth look at the digital world for genealogists, participants will walk through the essential components of an online research plan. We will also discuss the need for online planning, ideas to help prioritize tasks, methods to stay on track when research online, and ways to create and maintain an online research log.	Taylor
1:00–2:15 pm	How SEO and SEM Impacts YOUR Search Together we will examine SEO (search engine optimization) and SEM (search engine marketing) from a user's perspective to understand how both elements interact with your online searches. This session includes hands-on encounters with Google and other search engines as we begin to see the role SEO and SEM can play when conducting genealogical research online.	Taylor
2:45–4:00 pm	Hands-on: The Rules of Search Engines—AND OR NOT Endlessly typing search phrases into Google, Bing, or other search engines is not always an effective method. This session will explore a variety of essential search engine techniques. This hands-on session explores Boolean tools, truncation, and advanced features of popular search engines.	Taylor
Tuesday
8:30–9:45 am	Focus on Museums and Digital Objects A fathom of treasures awaits from museums and other institutions that present access to digital collections through their websites. This session will examine methods to find online digital objects and provide techniques to incorporate them into your research.	Philibert-Ortega
10:15–11:30 am	Focus on University and Digital Library Collections This session explores various materials found online from universities and other libraries throughout the United States. Methods to identify and search these collections will also be discussed.	Taylor
1:00–2:15 pm	Hands-on: The Big 4, Part I—FamilySearch and Ancestry FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Findmypast provide access to millions of online materials for genealogical research. This two-part hands-on workshop will examine advanced techniques for utilizing each of these resources. Participants will learn methods for navigating through unindexed collections, user-generated content (such as family trees), and other online materials.	Passey
2:45–4:00 pm	Hands-on: The Big 4, Part II—MyHeritage and Findmypast FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and Findmypast provide access to millions of online materials for genealogical research. This two-part hands-on workshop will examine advanced techniques for utilizing each of these resources. Participants will learn methods for navigating through unindexed collections, user-generated content (such as family trees), and other online materials.	Passey
Wednesday
8:30–9:45 am	Online Library Catalogs: A Hidden Gateway to Digital Materials For some libraries, their online catalog presents the easiest (and most reliable) option for making their materials accessible online. This session will discuss the essential mechanics behind online library catalogs and how to located digital collections that might appear hidden within a library's catalog. This session will include examples from the United States, Eastern Europe, and the United Kingdom.	Taylor
10:15–11:30 am	Data about Data: Metadata Schemas Used by Digital Archivists and Librarians Spend some time with an overview of the basic schemas often employed by professionals when organizing digital materials and placing them online. This sessions will include a discussion of DublinCore, EAD, MARC, MODS, and other schemas.	Taylor
1:00–2:15 pm	Hands-on: Digital Archives and Online Catalogs, Part I This two-part interactive lab includes a discussion of the process of creating digital collections, examples from collections for historical and genealogical sources, and tips for locating materials online. Using techniques discussed previously in the week, participants will spend time working in ArchiveGrid, the online catalogs of the Family History Library and the Library of Congress, other repositories.	Taylor
2:45–4:00 pm	Hands-on: Digital Archives and Online Catalogs, Part II This two-part interactive lab includes a discussion of the process of creating digital collections, examples from collections for historical and genealogical sources, and tips for locating materials online. Using techniques discussed previously in the week, participants will spend time working in ArchiveGrid, the online catalogs of the Family History Library and the Library of Congress, other repositories.	Taylor
Thursday
8:30–9:45 am	Maps Online, Part I: A Strategy for Locating Regional, Neighborhood, & Site-Specific Map Resources The vast amount of map and geographic resources available on the Internet can overwhelm a researcher. During this session, a strategy to search for and select a map to answer a research question will be introduced that will help participants identify their need based upon the scale of information sought. First, a national or broad regional approach is featured focusing upon historical and present-day topographic maps and historical state or county boundary shifts. Next, neighborhood-level resources will be discussed using fire insurance and county atlas maps as examples, and then site-specific information will be explored using local government Geographic Information Systems (GIS) resources.	Kashuba
10:15–11:30 am	Maps Online, Part II: Hands-on Map Tools This session walks participants through two guided exercises that are designed to enhance genealogical research, analysis, and create compelling ancestral stories. The first exercise involves georeferencing or placing a digitized historical map over a present-day location on Google Earth. The layering of an old map over a modern map allows for quick comparison of historical conditions to those found today. The second exercise introduces Google's My Maps as a versatile tool for visualizing genealogical data, tracing migration routes, analyzing location-based information, and planning research. A free Google account is necessary to use the My Maps feature.	Kashuba
1:00–2:15 pm	Focus on Advanced Techniques for Digitized Newspapers Online newspaper collections and their search functions vary from website to website. This session will share advanced techniques for searching online newspapers, including commercial resources (such as Newspapers.com), state, and national newspaper projects, and other specialized collections.	Philibert-Ortega
2:45–4:00 pm	Hands-on: JSTOR & PERSI Research within journals and newsletters are essential for genealogical research. This hands-on workshop will explore advanced techniques for using the PERiodcial Source Index (PERSI) and JSTOR for genealogical research. Participants will work through a series of guided examples before spending time applying their newfound knowledge to an individual research project.	Taylor
Friday
8:30–9:45 am	Focus on Churches, Institutions, and other Organizations While some records from private organizations are readily available online many are difficult to locate or are still in paper form. This explores a variety of online resources for religious institutions, fraternal organizations, and other associations. Examples focus on collections not located on commercial family history websites.	Taylor
10:15–11:30 am	Focus on Public and Private Archives Numerous public and private archives throughout the United States include incredible digital collections often overlook by researchers. Vertical files, local photographs, diaries, and other resources are just a sample of what awaits genealogists in these materials. This session will focus specifically on using these materials to solve advanced research questions.	Passey
1:00–2:15 pm	Scouring the Graveyards of Web 2.0: Searching in Social Media New waves of online technologies, from Facebook to Twitter, provide several valuable resources for genealogists. This session will explore how to mind genealogical resources from older social networking and photo-sharing platforms.	Taylor
2:45–4:00 pm	What's Next: Future Digital Collections As we end an intensive week exploring our digital world, this session will examine new developments and enhancements that will assuredly bring continued changes. Together we will review and discuss issues ranging from technological advancements to potential regulations and restrictions.	Taylor

Advanced Practices in Social History

Week 2

Records & Resources

Gena Philibert-Ortega, MA, MAR

Social history looks at the ordinary person. It’s “history…with the people put back in,” examining topics such as marriage, family life, and women’s roles in society, food, education, immigration, death, labor, and industry. Participants in this course will understand that social history is a core genealogy research competency and will learn to think and research as historians.

Although this course is on the same general subject as the SLIG courses, the SLIG Courses were surveys of Social History. This course deals with higher-level and advanced topics, and develops specific historical research skills.

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Level of Instruction

Advanced

Prerequisites

This course is for genealogists of any skill level who want to explore genealogy in the context of American History. There are no history prerequisites, but the successful student will be familiar with standard genealogical terms, research techniques, and basic genealogical sources.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Class Introductions	Philibert-Ortega
8:30–9:45 am	Introduction to Social History	Philibert-Ortega
10:15–11:30 am	Historian's Toolkit 1: Definitions	Hill
1:00–2:15 pm	Historian's Toolkit 2: Thinking Like a Historian	Hill
2:45–4:00 pm	Her Family Life: Relationships	Philibert-Ortega
Tuesday
8:30–9:45 am	Her Family Life: Civic Life	Philibert-Ortega
10:15–11:30 am	Social History of Money	Hill
1:00–2:15 pm	Occupations and Employment	Philibert-Ortega
2:45–4:00 pm	Social History of Health and Medicine	Hill
4:00–4:30 pm	Introduction of Group Case Studies	Hill
Wednesday
8:30–9:45 am	Through the Golden Door: Immigration After the Civil War	Russell
10:15–11:30 am	Food	Philibert-Ortega
1:00–2:15 pm	Military Service of Our Ancestors and Their Place in Society	Strauss
2:45–4:00 pm	Historian's Toolkit 3: Research Techniques & Sources	Hill
Thursday
8:30–9:45 am	Secret Societies: Finding Your Ancestors in Fraternal Organizations	Strauss
10:15–11:30 am	Decoding Secret Societies: Finding Your Female Fraternal Ancestors	Strauss
1:00–2:15 pm	Land and Property	Hill
2:45–4:00 pm	Death	Philibert-Ortega
Friday
8:30–9:45 am	Pulling it Together: Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's A Midwife's Tale... Part 1	Philibert-Ortega
10:15–11:30 am	Pulling it Together: Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's A Midwife's Tale... Part 2	Philibert-Ortega
1:00–2:15 pm	Case Study Group Presentations	Hill, Philibert-Ortega
2:45–4:00 pm	Case Study Group Presentations	Hill, Philibert-Ortega

Advanced Research Tools: Land Records

Week 2

Records & Resources

Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA

Land genealogy is as important as people genealogy for overcoming family history research barriers. This course explores land distribution in the current United States by colonial powers, private land claims, federal land records at both the National Archives and the General Land Office, and local-level county or town deeds. Students will learn about the Public Land Survey System and the metes and bound system. Course content illustrates the use of land records to prove kinship. Use of software and Internet resources for finding land records, mapping, and deed platting is demonstrated and practiced in hands-on labs or classroom exercises.

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Level of Instruction

Advanced

Prerequisites

Attendees are expected to have a basic understanding of land records. Attendance at an intermediate level course such as Researching Like a Professional offered at SLIG or Intermediate Genealogy & Historical Studies offered at IGHR or SLIG Virtual Intermediate Foundations is recommended.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Introductions	R. Sayre
8:30–9:45 am	Overview of Land Division in the United States An explanation of the overall history, survey, and process of acquisition and distribution of land in the United States, first by foreign governments (British, French, Spanish), and then by individual states and the U.S. government.	R. Sayre
10:15–11:30 am	Understanding State Land States Identifying “state land” states (the original thirteen colonies, their “children,” and a few other unique states) and understanding the property descriptions for these metes and bounds surveys. A look at resources for finding records of the first purchases or grants of land from a previous government, state, or commonwealth in these areas, and a brief look at how property in state land states is described in deeds.	Koford
1:00–2:15 pm	Understanding Federal Land Division A description of the United States government’s method of surveying and describing lands it acquired after formation of the country and from other later sources such as the Louisiana Purchase. A brief look at how federal land (rectangular grid survey) is described in deeds.	R. Sayre
2:45–4:00 pm	Using the BLM General Land Office Website Learn to use the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office website to locate patents for first purchasers of federal land, find bounty land awarded to veterans for service in wars up through the Mexican War, locate the neighbors, and discover the jewels available in this valuable online source.	Koford
4:00–4:30 pm	Homework Assignment Note: Home assignment requires Internet access and a computer or tablet with a browser and word processor capability.	Koford
Tuesday
8:00–8:30 am	Homework Review (from Monday)	Koford
8:30–9:45 am	Land Entry Files Beginning in 1778, the United States acquired public land, surveyed it, and disposed of it, creating federal land records in the process. Today the National Archives holds land entry papers for the thirty public land states whose lands were once part of the U.S. public domain. These records are valuable for locating families and individuals at a point in time and documenting family land holdings. They may also provide valuable family information.	McGhie
10:15–11:30 am	Buying the Farm…Selling, Mortgaging, Inheriting It (And More) Land law seems like it ought to be the simplest of matters: you buy land, you own it, and that's it. This class will show how understanding land law is often the key to answering some of genealogy's most challenging questions.	Russell
1:00–2:15 pm	Introduction to Private Land Claims When the United States acquired land that had been under the governance of foreign nations (Great Britain, France, Spain, and Mexico), the U.S. government agreed to grant title to land owners who could prove prior legal land rights from those foreign governments. This class shows how to access and use records resulting from the adjudication of these “private land claims,” which may provide significant family information.	R. Sayre
2:45–4:00 pm	Classroom Assignment: Guided exercises relating to a land entry file, a PLSS deed, and a private land claim (metes and bounds) Note: Class work requires Internet access and the student’s computer or tablet with a browser.	Koford, R. Sayre
Wednesday
8:00–8:30am	Tuesday Classroom Assignment Review	Koford, R. Sayre
8:30–9:45am	Land Division in Ohio, Texas, & Other Unique Areas Some areas within the United States have unique systems of land division, such as Ohio with its several methods of survey, and Texas, with a land division system influenced by the Spanish, Mexicans, and others. This class describes some of the areas that don’t follow the norm of other state land or federal land states.	R. Sayre
10:15–11:30 am	Records of the General Land Office: A Guide This guide is the first comprehensive guide to federal land records created 1804–1912 relating to the contiguous states west of the Mississippi River. Published by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as the fourth part of its Trans-Mississippi West series (following guides to State, Justice, and Agriculture Department records), it continues the inventory of Department of the Interior records, and is a continuation of The Territorial Papers of the United States.	R. Sayre
1:00–2:15 pm	Metes & Bounds Land Plats The session begins with a motivational presentation using case studies to show how land plats solve genealogical problems. After an introduction to metes and bounds concepts, students learn how to abstract the metes and bounds from a historical record and then draw plats from the legal boundary descriptions.	Koford, Smith
2:45–4:30 pm	Introduction to DeedMapper Students learn to use the forms entry interface to DeedMapper software to plat metes & bounds tracts. The session will include an introduction to advanced DeedMapper features, such as platting with base maps and exporting plats to GoogleEarth.	Koford, Smith
Thursday
8:30–9:45 am	Finding and Using Land Ownership Maps A description of the many maps that contribute to knowledge of land ownership, from a detailed map of property owners along the upper Ohio River, to 1800s-era cadastral survey maps, to county maps by Arphax detailing original purchasers of federal lands. Online resources will be demonstrated.	R. Sayre
10:15–11:30 am	Land Records in the Serial Set, American State Papers, and Territorial Papers and Other Government Documents These three government publications contain unique and significant information concerning land transactions in the public domain. These documents cover most of the nation’s history and contain, among many things, information on land titles, bounty land applications and claims, and private land disputes. Students will discover the nature of these records and how to effectively search them.	R. Sayre
1:00–2:15 pm	Using Tract Books Tract books were maintained by the General Land Office, and then the Bureau of Land Management, to record land entries and actions affecting the disposition of public land. They can be used as an index to locate patented as well as cancelled land transactions.	McGhie
2:45–4:00 pm	Classroom Assignment: Guided exercises including a map-finding exercise, government documents, and tract books Note: classwork requires Internet Access and the student’s computer or tablet with a browser.	Koford, R. Sayre
Friday
8:30–9:45 am	U.S. Military Bounty Lands An understanding of the law, process of applying for, and receiving bounty land from the U.S. government for military service is the intent of this class. Case studies will illustrate this process, and resources for finding these important records will be shown.	Koford
10:15–11:30 am	Homesteads: Federal Land Records at the National Archives Because the Homestead Act touched so many lives in the United States, creating huge numbers of records, and because homestead files within the General Land Office are such rich sources of information about the claimants, this session describes the Homestead Act, the process of claiming the land, and provides illustrative case files.	R. Sayre
1:00–2:15 pm	Online Sources of Land Records An exploration of the rich resources for land research available from the Family History Library, FamilySearch, and state and local websites: deeds, maps, property tax records, and more. Learn to use various websites to locate resources; then analyze and correlate the records to form valid conclusions.	R. Sayre
2:45–4:00 pm	Thursday Classroom Assignment Review; Wrap-up and Course Review	Koford, R. Sayre

Corpus Juris: Advanced Legal Concepts for Genealogy

Week 1

Records & Resources

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

This course offers students an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the rich research resources of the law, including those generally available only at law libraries. Students will work with legal records and sources, gaining a better grasp of legal history and its implications for research as well as the skills to find and apply the law to solve genealogical problems. Individual sessions will focus on specific legal disciplines (criminal, civil, probate and the like) and students will have the opportunity to visit and use the resources of a major university law library.

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Level of Instruction

Advanced

Prerequisites

Completion of a basic course in genealogy and law—Family History Law Library (SLIG) or Law School for Genealogists (GRIP)—is recommended.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Class Introductions	Russell
8:30–9:45 am	Introduction: An Overview of Legal Systems and the Records They Produce	Russell
10:15–11:30 am	Testaments, Marriage Contracts, Land Sales and Much More: Notarial Records in Civil Law Countries	G. Ryskamp
1:00–2:15 pm	Legal Research I: Understanding Statutes and Session Laws	Russell
2:45–4:00 pm	Legal Research II: Finding and Using Statutes and Session Laws	Russell
Tuesday
8:30–9:45 am	Legal Research III: Hands On with Statutes and Session Laws	Russell
10:15–11:30 am	Genealogical Implications of Slavery’s Legal History	Garrett-Nelson
1:00–2:15 pm	Prestatehood Legal Research—Tools and Strategies	R. Sayre
2:45–4:00 pm	Assembling and Correlating Prestatehood Legal Materials: A Case Study	R. Sayre
Wednesday
8:30–9:45 am	Legal Research IV: Appeals Courts and Their Records	Russell
10:15–11:30 am	Legal Research V: Digests and Reporters	Russell
1:00–2:15 pm	Law Library I: Virtual Introduction to Law Library Resources	Garrett-Nelson, Russell
2:45–4:00 pm	Law Library II: Hands-on Exercises with Virtual Law Library	Garrett-Nelson, Russell
Thursday
8:30–9:45 am	Canon Law: When the Church Says Yes (or NO!)	McDonald
10:15–11:30 am	Family Law Records: Review of the Scope of Family Records	Russell
1:00–2:15 pm	Probate Records: Hands On	Jones
2:45–4:00 pm	An Act for the Relief: Finding and Using Private Laws	Russell
Friday
8:30–9:45 am	Homework Review	Russell
10:15–11:30 am	In the Poor House: Legal Records of Debt	Russell
1:00–2:15 pm	Becoming American: A Deeper Look at Immigration and Naturalization Records and Their Laws	Garrett-Nelson
2:45–4:00 pm	Criminal Records: From Prosecution to Parole	Russell

In-Depth African American Genealogy

Week 2

Regional & Ethnic Research

LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL

SLIG was at the forefront of recognizing the 400th anniversary of the first recorded arrival of Africans in an English colony by offering the inaugural African American genealogy course in the very first month of 2019. The same faculty of experts will teach in the 2021 course, to provide a foundational overview of records and strategies used to support credible genealogical conclusions about ancestors who lived before the twentieth century. The course has been updated by the addition of three new instructors who will drill down on the most difficult aspects of researching enslaved families in the antebellum era. Two new lectures will address an area that rarely receives thorough treatment: resources and strategies for West India family research.

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Level of Instruction

Intermediate to Advanced

Suggested Requirements

Students should have a working knowledge of the Genealogical Proof Standard and the research process.

A laptop will be needed for at least one scheduled homework assignment, and students might also find it useful for in-class use.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Introductions	Garrett-Nelson
8:30–9:45 am	Historical Background: Timeline of African Americans in the Continental United States	Garrett-Nelson
10:15–11:30 am	Slavery and the Law	Russell
1:00–2:15 pm	Writing for Peer-Reviewed Journals: Developing a Case Study from Your Research	Peters
2:45–4:00 pm	African Americans in Federal Census Records	Abbott
Tuesday
8:30–9:45 am	Online Records and Research of African American Ancestors	Hait
10:15–11:30 am	Case Study: Documenting Sources	Abbott
1:00–2:15 pm	Manuscript Collections	Abbott
2:45–4:00 pm	Correlating Evidence: Identifying Families and Relationships During Slavery	Wilds
4:00–4:30 pm	Homework Assignment	Wilds
Wednesday
8:00–8:30 am	Review Tuesday's Homework Assignment	Wilds
8:30–9:45 am	Black and White Families in Plantation Records	Wilkins
10:15–11:30 am	Case Study: Using Land Records	Abbott
1:00–2:15 pm	An Enslaved Person's Fan Club	Garrett-Nelson
2:45–4:00 pm	Uses and Limitations of Genetic Genealogy	Garrett-Nelson
Thursday
8:30–9:45 am	Case Study: Free People of Color	Abbott
10:15–11:30 am	Case Study: Application of the GPS to Identify Enslaved People Owned by a Single Family	Hait
1:00–2:15 pm	Southern Claims Commission and the Slave Claims Commissions, 1864-1867	Hait
2:45–4:00 pm	Finding the Last Slave Owner	Wilkins
Friday
8:30–9:45 am	The People of the West Indies and Their History	Warmsley
10:15–11:30 am	Resources and Strategies for West Indian Family Research	Warmsley
1:00–2:15 pm	Case Study: Effective Research Techniques	Abbott
2:45–4:00 pm	Burning Questions, Roundtable, & Certificates	Abbott, Garrett-Nelson, Wilds

The Pennsylvania German and Research in the Keystone State

Week 2

Regional & Ethnic Research

Michael D. Lacopo, DVM

Between 80,000 and 110,000 German-speaking immigrants arrived in the American colonies before the onset of the Revolution, with the port of Philadelphia being the favored port of disembarkation. "Pennsylvanians of German ancestry accounted for 50 to 60 percent of Pennsylvania's population in 1760 and 33 percent in 1790."¹ These men and women became the illustrious "Pennsylvania Dutch" ancestors of many genealogists today.

This course focuses on the push and pull factors that brought these immigrants to America, what their lives were like, and how a deeper understanding of the social history of this immigrant group can make for a better researcher. Unique record groups specific to this ethnic migration will also be discussed.

The Pennsylvania Germans were Germans first and Pennsylvanians second, so understanding the wealth of information available in Pennsylvania records and repositories comprises a great deal of class time. ALL researchers with Pennsylvania roots prior to 1850 will benefit from the wealth of information gleaned in classes devoted to land records, church records, military record, courthouse records, and more.

¹Farley Grubb, “German Immigration to Pennsylvania, 1709 to 1820,” The Journal of Interdisciplinary History, XX:3 (Winter 1990), 417-436 (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press).

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Level of Instruction

Intermediate to Advanced

Suggested Requirements

An understanding of the Genealogical Proof Standard is necessary in all levels of genealogical research, and this class is no exception. Previous research experience in on-site courthouse and archival work will be helpful; simply knowing you have a Pennsylvania German ancestor will not. The class will function under the assumption that you have experience in research methods beyond Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. Although the German experience will be a focus of this class, any student who wants to learn more about Pennsylvania research pre-1850 will go home with plenty of new knowledge.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Course Welcome	Lacopo
8:30–9:45 am	The German Immigrant Experience in the 18th Century The push and pull factors will be discussed that lead to the enormous influx of German immigrants to the colonies, especially Pennsylvania, in the 18th century. Details of the immigrant experience will be discussed from the decision to leave Germany, the voyage up the Rhine River, and the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. What did Germans face in the New World, and what was it like for them?	Lacopo
10:15–11:30 am	A New Life in Pennsylvania: Germans or Americans? The Germans in Pennsylvania were so numerous that Benjamin Franklin complained, “Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.” What hurdles did the Germans face in English-speaking Pennsylvania, and how did they keep their heritage intact? Did they embrace their newfound identity or rebel against it? Where did subsequent generations migrate? What customs of the Pennsylvania Germans affect our genealogical research today?	Lacopo
1:00–2:15 pm	An Essential Pennsylvania German Starter Kit: Overview of Literature and Databases Learn what books, websites, and periodicals should be an essential part of the Pennsylvania research library. These resources will give you the foundation you need to document your immigrant and family and begin the process of finding that elusive ancestral home. Annette Kunselman Burgert, Werner Hacker, Henry Z. “Hank” Jones, Don Yoder… all names that will become familiar to the Pennsylvania German researcher. Build your own Pennsylvania German master research calendar.	Darby
2:45–4:00 pm	Colonial Military Records in the Pennsylvania State Archives Pennsylvania has a long tradition of military service throughout its history. With local militia in colonial Pennsylvania to service in the regulars; this lecture focuses on conducting military genealogical research beginning in 1744 and moving forward to include the French and Indian War and beyond. Particular emphasis is placed on each of the major war periods including the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Mexican War of 1846. This lecture will also examine some of the peacetime periods covering the Whiskey Rebellions, and the period between 1784-1811 when the United States wasn't in any military conflict. Some of the records included in this lecture will be Compiled Service Records, Muster Rolls, Pension Lists, Bounty Lands, and will cover each of the military branches including the Army, Navy, Marines, and Revenue Cutter Service. An examination of the sources of all the military resources will include how to access these records onsite and online from the National Archives, Pennsylvania State Archives and Library, and the United States Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA.	TBD
4:00–4:30 pm	Q&A Session Instructor(s) will be available at the end of day’s lectures for Q&A and exercises based on the topics covered through the week.	Lacopo
Tuesday
8:00–8:30 am	Class Introductions	Lacopo
8:30–9:45 am	Land Records in the Pennsylvania State Archives This session presents the history of private land ownership in Pennsylvania, first acquisition from the Penn Proprietors, and later from the Commonwealth Land office. The history covers various land programs and the general four-step process (application, warrant, survey, patent). The resulting records are explored. A practicum exercise will reinforce discussion of the indexes and their use. On-line resources, including the warrant indexes and surveys are shown. Interlocking record sets, such as those found in the published Pennsylvania Archives are discussed.	TBD
10:15–11:30 am	Furthering Pennsylvania Land Research The history of Pennsylvania land acquisition programs resulted in a number of programs with indexes and records separate from the county indexes (East Side, West Side, New Purchase, Last Purchase, Depreciation and Donation Lands, Baynton and Wharton). The applicability and role these play when researching certain Pennsylvania regions should be understood for complete and thorough research. Similarly, the Susquehanna Company activities resulted in other records for the area of Pennsylvania that was in dispute with Connecticut. The metes & bounds survey system, coupled with the application process, resulted in frequent land disputes. Understanding the caveat (dispute) process and resulting records is often necessary in Pennsylvania land research. The role of limited, but important record sets such as rent rolls, land office mortgages, island records is outlined.	Smith
1:00–2:15 pm	County Land Records and Footprints in Other Sources In addition to deeds in county repositories, land ownership was recorded in Orphans Court records, civil cases, sheriff deeds, mortgage books, and bills of sale. Traces of Pennsylvania settlers are also found in federal land records after they moved to other states. If you stop searching at the Recorder of Deeds office, you have missed an enormous amount of information. Have you explored these and other alternate sources?	Lacopo
2:45–4:00 pm	Tax Records Most genealogists know that tax records should be used as a part of our “relatively exhaustive search,” but few use them to their fullest potential. Pennsylvania is a state with easily accessible and rich amounts of information in their county tax records. Learn how tax records pin down families year by year, showing their changing economic status. See how tax records can give you clues to years of birth, marriage, migration, and death of our Pennsylvania ancestors by understanding the tax laws of the state. So many more clues to our ancestors’ lives can be gleaned from tax records.	Lacopo
4:00–4:30 pm	Land Research Lab Navigate the digitized records of land acquisition on the Pennsylvania State Archives website with help from instructors.	Lacopo
Wednesday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Q&A Session Students can arrive early to ask questions regarding the previous days’ lectures.	Lacopo
8:30–9:45 am	A Visit to the Pennsylvania Courthouse, Part I Court records are hard to access but essential to thorough research. What’s a Prothonotary? What kind of cases will you find in the Court of Oyer and Terminer? If a father died but the mother still lived, why search Orphans Court records? So many of our ancestors were brought to court for a plethora of both civil and criminal causes. From bastardy and divorce to selling liquor illegally and slander, court records can make for interesting reading… and sometimes even petty complaints can yield a huge treasure trove of genealogical data!	Lacopo
10:15–11:30 am	A Visit to the Pennsylvania Courthouse, Part II We continue our journey through the Pennsylvania courthouse discussing the offices and record types that can help you with your research.	Lacopo
1:00–2:15 pm	Estate Files: Where There's a Will... There are More Documents If you haven’t ventured further than the will and dug into the estate files of your ancestor, you are missing important research clues. Probate files, inventories, vendue lists, signatures, and accounts can yield information you may not find anywhere else. Learn how to find them and evaluate them fully as we walk through a singular ancestral example and mine it for clues.	Lacopo
2:45–4:00 pm	Adding Character: Using Repositories and Archives So often the real gems of Pennsylvania German research are not found in the typical location, but rather in the varied repositories and archives of Pennsylvania. You will learn how to locate these archives, how to search their collections (finding aids), and how to use what you find in your research. We will focus on finding and using manuscripts, city directories, diaries, letters and photographs to flesh out our ancestors’ stories. Learn to find the “good stuff” – the meat on the bones of our ancestors, or sometimes the means to breaking down brick walls.	Darby
4:00–4:30 pm	Probate Case Study Work in small groups on a probate case identifying the people involved, what transpires in the case, what it means, and formulate a research plan for continued investigation.	Lacopo
Thursday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Q&A Session Students can arrive early to ask questions regarding the previous days’ lectures.	Lacopo
8:30–9:45 am	Church Records, Part I: The History and Theology Some organized religions did not practice infant baptism, so looking for that elusive baptismal record for an ancestor may be pointless. The basic organization and theology of the religions of our Pennsylvania ancestors will be discussed, especially how they relate to record keeping. It is important to know the theology behind the religions of our ancestors and how we may be missing important information by not looking in the proper place.	Lacopo
10:15–11:30 am	Church Records, Part II: Records and Repositories Now that we understand the basic tenets of our colonial religious denominations, where can we find the records? What will they look like, and what information will we find within them? Where are the repositories for church records and how do we locate them? Remember always to search for baptisms by the CLAM principle! Don’t know what that is? You will.	Lacopo
1:00–2:15 pm	Pennsylania German Social History: Furthering Research by Understanding Your Ancestors Can you prove the death of a Pennsylvania German ancestor by the purchase or raisins and nutmeg in a store ledger? Have you looked for a Taufschein, or illustrated baptismal certificate, for your ancestor? Pennsylvania Germans maintained a rich cultural heritage for several generations, and they left a wealth of historical and genealogical information behind, hidden in museums and artifacts and not just on paper. Only by understanding the folk ways of the Pennsylvania Germans can you fully comprehend the rich sources of information waiting to be explored.	Lacopo
2:45–4:00 pm	From Germany to Pennsylvania to Where? Our Pennsylvania German ancestors left traces of their lives in more places outside the confines of the Keystone State. The Germans in Virginia and North Carolina were often relatives who migrated down the Shenandoah Valley or arrived in one of the lesser-known ports other than Philadelphia. Others pushed westward into Ohio within two or three generations from the immigrant ancestor. What was the German experience as the nation approached the Civil War?	Lacopo
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Q&A Session Students can stay after class to ask questions regarding the previous days’ lectures.	Lacopo
Friday
8:00–8:30 am	Probate Case Study Discussion regarding Wednesday’s homework assignment and brief presentations by small groups.	Lacopo
8:30–9:45 am	Researching Your Ancestors in the City of Philadelphia This lecture focuses on genealogical research methodology in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With a larger population base, similarities with common names, and difficulties with navigating records, research in urban areas can sometime become daunting. However this research is not without its rewards. The record facilities this lecture will examine include the City of Philadelphia Archives, City Hall in Philadelphia (Register of Wills, Recorder of Deeds, and Prothonotary), Philadelphia Free Library, Temple University, and the Pennsylvania Historical Society. Particular attention will be given to utilize each facility both onsite and online. Numerous genealogical source materials will be examined for each location to better know our Ancestors.	Strauss
10:15–11:30 am	Research Techniques for Finding Immigrant Place of Origin Pennsylvania German immigrants of the 18th century need different research techniques and approaches than typical German research of the 19th century and later. We will discuss ways to overcome the challenges of this research. The class and instructors will work together to discuss students’ immigrant ancestors and formulate a research plan for locating more information. The importance of cluster genealogy will be discussed and how that can help locate place or origin in German-speaking Europe.	Lacopo
1:00–2:45 pm	Boots on the Ground: Learning How to Access Records in Germany Successful research in Germany, requires advanced preparation and knowledge of how these archives work and what they contain. Learn how to access that information before you go, what to expect once you arrive, and how to get the most out of your trip to the homeland. Religious and governmental archives, at all levels, will be discussed. Learn how to plan that once in a lifetime trip to walk in your ancestor’s footsteps.	Darby
2:45–4:00pm	Problem Solving and Troubleshooting The last class will serve as a panel discussion and problem solving regarding students’ Pennsylvania German research question. Come prepared with questions regarding information learned during the week, or a well-structured, brief question regarding your own Pennsylvania German research dilemmas.	Darby, Lacopo, Smith, Strauss

Show Me Missouri

Week 1

Regional & Ethnic Research

Pamela Boyer Sayre, CG, FUGA

Missouri's location in the middle of the United States and its importance in the exploration and development of the Midwest, West, and Southwest make it an important research target for many whose ancestors settled there early, remained for a lengthy or short time, or simply passed through on their way west. This course will provide context through learning about migration paths; cultural, religious, or geographic patterns of settlement; and history, as well as providing an in-depth discovery of available vital records, manuscript collections, archives, and library resources inside and outside Missouri.

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Level of Instruction

Intermediate to Advanced

Requirements

Students should have completed the equivalent of beginning and intermediate-level general genealogy courses of instruction and have an interest in specific topics of research in Missouri. Optional individual homework will provide practice in the records, resources, and methodologies presented each day, and suggested solutions to the homework problems will be presented the next morning. This practice is designed to reinforce the students' understanding of the types of records presented, how they are used, and how to access them online or in person. The ability to do online research will be a requirement of the optional homework assignments.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Class	Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Introductions and Class Orientation An introduction to the week's schedule, topics, and instructors, as well as individual student introductions if time permits.	P. Sayre
8:30–9:45 am	Missouri History, Settlement, and Migration An overview of Missouri's history under French, Spanish, and American governments; settlement patterns influenced by the state's geography and agriculture; pre-U.S. settlement in the state, nineteenth-century immigration by Germans and other Europeans, and twentieth-century migration by African Americans and rural dwellers to the cities.	P. Sayre
10:15–11:30 am	The Basics: Vital Records and Courthouse Familiarization A survey of birth, marriage, and death records in Missouri, from randomly kept registers in the nineteenth century to formalized state registration in 1910, including online sources. Session includes a virtual visit to a Missouri courthouse to understand the organization of records within the appropriate county office.	P. Sayre
1:00–2:15 pm	Missouri State Archives: Where History Begins As the official repository for state government records, the Missouri State Archives holds an abundance of genealogical resources. This session will provide you with an overview of the records available for research at the archives, as well as provide information on how to do distance research at the archives by using online databases or submitting research requests.	Miller
2:45–4:00 pm	The State Historical Society of Missouri—Newspapers and Much More! The State Historical Society of Missouri is the premier research center for the study of state and local history in Missouri. This session will provide an overview of the Society's extensive manuscript, newspaper, map, photo, oral history, and art collections. It will emphasize instruction on accessing the collections for genealogy (including collections formerly part of the Western Historical Manuscripts Collection), the structure of the Society and its research centers throughout the state, microfilm and library materials accessible at the Society, and tips on how to research on-site and remotely in the collections.	Eddleman
4:00–4:30 am	Day 1 Homework	P. Sayre
Tuesday
8:00–8:30 am	Day 1 Homework Review	P. Sayre
8:30–9:45 am	Genealogy Treasures at the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center The Missouri Historical Society was founded in 1866 and since that time has been collecting books, newspapers, documents, photographs, and objects to document the history of St. Louis, the state of Missouri, and the nineteenth-century American West. Among these collections are many unique items of great genealogical value, particularly for the St. Louis metropolitan area. This course will introduce you to an array of these genealogy sources, including 20th-century employee magazines, questionnaires filled out by World War I veterans, Grand Army of the Republic records, and records of a St. Louis Swiss benevolent society. The course will also provide tips for navigating the Missouri Historical Society website for genealogical research.	Northcott
10:15–11:30 am	Analyzing Early Missouri Probate Inventories and Sales to Reveal Our Ancestors’ Lives This interactive session shows how intensive scrutiny of individual inventories and sales inside their historical, legal and cultural contexts invariably yields valuable clues. As Missouri became a state 200 years ago, seemingly mundane lists of household goods in estate files provide essential details to how they lived and where else to look for their footprints.	Dougan
1:00–2:15 pm	American Indians in Missouri Many people know about the Cherokee people in Missouri, but it is often overlooked that Missouri was home to many tribes prior to western settlement of the U.S. This session provides an historical review of the native tribes who called Missouri home and explores the numerous tribes that migrated to and through the state during the removal of tribes from the eastern U.S. An extensive overview of Indian rolls, manuscripts, and various genealogical resources about these tribes will be presented to help researchers of all skill levels learn more about Missouri and its rich tribal history.	Fogarty
2:45–4:00 pm	Courting Missouri: The Courts of the Show-Me State More than perhaps any other general category of genealogical records, court records provide an intimate glimpse into and, often, the best available evidence of the lives and times of ancestors. Understanding the records of the courts--especially those closest to the average citizen--is crucial to finding clues to family history in Missouri and beyond.	Russell
4:00–4:30 am	Day 2 Homework	P. Sayre
Wednesday
8:00–8:30 am	Day 2 Homework Review	P. Sayre
8:30–9:45 am	French and Spanish Eras in Missouri TBA	Ryskamp
10:15–11:30 am	Private Land Claims Missouri has a rich and complicated land history. Though a public land state, the early history goes back to grants by France and Spain and later Private Land Claims ultimately adjudicated by the U.S. Government. Fortunately, for researchers there are many resources to navigate this maze. We will explore these resources and focus on effective strategies to use these tools in our genealogical research.	R. Sayre
1:00–2:15 pm	Uniquely Missouri: African American Research Through documents and a case study, this class will provide tips and hints to uncovering Missouri African American ancestors while highlighting large and small repositories and their holdings across the state.	Brandt
2:45–4:00 pm	German Settlement in Missouri Some German-Americans arrived early in Missouri. But most Germans exploded into the State during the mid-19th century, significantly altering the population and keeping Missouri in the Union despite its slave-state status. We’ll explore why they came, as well as which counties saw the largest German immigration and exceeded 50% German population. Special focus will be placed on the German counties and their unique research opportunities.	Whitton
4:00–4:30 am	Day 3 Homework	P. Sayre
Thursday
8:00–8:30 am	Day 3 Homework Review	P. Sayre
8:30–9:45 pm	Horse Thieves, Sabbath Breakers and Disobedient Children: Early Missouri Laws The laws our ancestors lived by tell their own story of life in earlier times, and, from the very first territorial statutes, the choices made by legislators about what laws were needed give a rich and deep context to family history. Using early Missouri laws as genealogical resources, we are able to tell the stories of a time when the big concerns were horse thieves, Sabbath breakers, and children needing humbling.	Russell
10:15–11:30 am	Tale of Two Missouri Libraries Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, Missouri, and St. Louis County Library History & Genealogy Department are two nationally known research collections you should be aware of. Find out what makes each of these repositories special in this team-taught class.	Holl, Lang
1:00–2:15 pm	Missouri's Other Research Repositories Universities, religious institutions, and other archives, plus libraries throughout the state focus on various aspects of Missouri's history and records. Regional and niche resources will be explored, along with how to access their records remotely or in person.	P. Sayre
2:45–4:00 pm	Purchases of Federal and State Lands in Missouri Following the adjudication of private land claims by the land commissions, public sales of federal land to individuals began in 1818. This session will discuss these sales and also the first sales of lands from the state. These state lands represent original grants from the federal government to Missouri, including seminary, saline, swamp, and township school lands, in various parts of the state. Also discussed are the sales of land beginning in 1843 from the 500,000-acre tracts granted to Missouri by the federal government.	R. Sayre
4:00–4:30 pm	Day 4 Homework	P. Sayre
Friday
8:00–8:30 am	Day 4 Homework Review	P. Sayre
8:30–9:45 am	The Old Ozarks: Settlement in an American Region The Ozarks is America's highland region between the Appalachians and the Rockies, covering parts of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. This class explores pre-Civil War settlement in the region. While the French were the first Europeans to vie with the Osages and other Native Americans for space in the hills of the Ozarks, later streams of American settlers from east of the Mississippi River exercised a greater impact on the population and culture of the region. These included the Scots-Irish (who have received the lion's share of attention in Ozarks history) and Palatine Germans, who have largely been overlooked in the region's story due to nineteenth-century German immigration to the fringes of the Ozarks. All in all, it was a surprisingly diverse cast of characters who populated the region in the century preceding the Civil War.	Blevins
10:15–11:30 am	Off the Beaten Path: Finding and Using Obscure Missouri Records This session will emphasize some key Missouri records that can sometimes yield rewards, but either are poorly known or difficult to access. The discussion will feature a variety of records, and will include accessing state hospital information, finding and using Missouri’s tax records prior to the Civil War, adoption information in light of the current more open laws, Missouri poor farm information, university and local archives, and many others.	Eddleman
1:00–2:15 pm	Military Records for Missouri Veterans Missourians fought in almost all of the national conflicts as well as conflicts within the state. We will explore the records held by the National Archives, Missouri State Archives, Missouri Historical Society, and the State Historical Society in order to find that record of service. One of our goals is to find the evidence of kinship found in so many of these records.	R. Sayre
2:45–4:00 pm	200 Years of Missouri Statehood A grand finale special speaker and panoramic tour of Missouri history. Relax and enjoy a celebration of Missouri's 200 years as a state and drawings for special commemorative gifts to be mailed to winners.	Dougan

Pre-1837 English Research: Digging Deeper

Week 2

International Research

Paul Milner, MDiv, FUGA

This course will provide an in-depth look at pre-1837 English research methodologies, resources and tools, including the laws that created the records. It will address all levels and classes of society from the landed classes to paupers; law-abiding citizens and criminals; tradesmen to professionals. Examples and case studies will be drawn from various regions of England.

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Level of Instruction

Intermediate to Advanced

Requirements

The students in the weeks prior to the class will be expected to read a book on English history to provide context. Recommendations will be made closer to the time. Students will also be surveyed ahead of time to understand their research and geographical experience.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Class	Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Introductions and Class Orientation	Milner
8:30–9:45 am	Find the Right Place: Maps and Gazetteers	Milner
10:15–11:30 am	Effective Use of England’s National Archives	Milner
1:00–2:15 pm	Church and Diocesan Records for B/M/D	Milner
2:45–4:00 pm	Tracing Non-Conformists and Recusants	Milner
Tuesday
8:30–9:45 am	Buried Treasures: What’s in the English Parish Chest?	Milner
10:15–11:30 am	What Does It Say?: English Handwriting	Loosle
1:00–2:15 pm	Navigating the Courts: Understanding the English Court Systems	Loosle
2:45–4:00 pm	Quarter Session Records	Milner
Wednesday
8:30–9:45 am	Crime and Punishment: Using Criminal Court Records	Loosle
10:15–11:30 am	Tips and Tools for Navigating the English Probate System	Milner
1:00–:15 pm	The Family Feud: Using Chancery Court Records	Loosle
2:45–4:00 pm	Tracing London and Big City Ancestry: Methods & Strategies	Dunn
Thursday
8:30–9:45 am	Tracing Elusive Ancestry in England's Industrial North Country	Dunn
10:15–11:30 am	Mind Your Manors: Using Manorial Records	Loosle
1:00–2:15 pm	English Land and Landscape Records	Milner
2:45–4:00 pm	Sources for Landed and Titled Families	Milner
Friday
8:30–9:45 am	Occupation, Guild, and Freeman Records	Milner
10:15–11:30 am	British Army Records	Milner
1:00–2:15 pm	Royal Navy Seamen and Their Ships	Milner
2:45–4:00 pm	Overlooked Issues and Sources in Pre-1837 Research	Milner

Mother Russia: Research in the Countries of the Former Russian Empire and USSR

Week 1

International Research

Joseph B. Everett, MLS, AG

Students in Mother Russia: Research in the Countries of the former Russian Empire and USSR will develop an understanding of the records, and research methods for tracing families in this region, and learn skills in searching, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from Russian records. The course includes instruction and practice in the Russian alphabet and handwriting, progressing to guided analysis of various source documents. Students will also learn about the historical and geographical context of the region, methods for tracing immigrant origins, and how to navigate to relevant records. This course is for those researching their own family history or who have clients or library patrons with heritage from lands that were part of the former Russian Empire or USSR. It is also for those who are interested in broadening their research knowledge for potential future research in this area. The emphasis will be on European areas of the former empire/union and on Christian and Jewish families.

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Level of Instruction

Intermediate to Advanced

Requirements

Students will learn best who already possess an intermediate to advanced knowledge of genealogical research methods and standards in general. No prior knowledge of Russia or the Russian language is required to succeed in the course, however participants will come prepared with at least a rudimentary knowledge of Russian history and the Russian alphabet by completing the pre-course requirements. Participants who already have a degree of Russian proficiency will benefit by reinforcing their abilities while developing new knowledge and skills in paleography, accessing resources, and research methods.

Participants will complete two pre-course modules to prepare for the in-person training at SLIG.

Russian Alphabet (3 hours): Participants will receive a packet of learning resources and complete assignments to develop a baseline understanding of the Russian alphabet.
Russian History, Geography, and Culture (90 minutes): Participants will complete a module including readings, videos, and handouts to gain an awareness of the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the resources and methods they will learn about during SLIG.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Class	Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Class Introduction and Review of Pre-Course Assignments	Everett
8:30–9:45 am	Introduction to Russian Research	Everett
10:15–11:30 am	Researching in Russia as a Non-Russian Speaker	Diamond
1:00–2:15 pm	Russian Language Part 1: Alphabet Practice and Vocabulary	Stewart
2:45–4:00 pm	Russian Language Part 2: Grammar Essentials and More Vocabulary	Everett
4:00–4:30 pm	Homework Assignment	Everett
Tuesday
8:00–8:30 am	Homework Review	Everett
8:30–9:45 am	Russian Handwritten Alphabet	Vance
10:15–11:30 am	Metrical Records	Vance
1:00–2:15 pm	Civil Registration	Everett
2:45–4:00 pm	Reading Russian Vital Records	Everett
4:00–4:30 pm	Homework Assignment	Everett
Wednesday
8:00–8:30 am	Homework Review	Everett
8:30–9:45 am	Beyond Vital Records	Diamond
10:15–11:30 am	Revision Lists and the 1897 Census	Vance
1:00–:15 pm	Military Records	Everett
2:45–4:00 pm	Research Methodology: Putting the Pieces Together (Part 1)	Diamond, Everett
4:00–4:30 pm	Homework Assignment	Everett
Thursday
8:00–8:30 am	Homework Review	Everett
8:30–9:45 am	Research in Ukraine	Diamond
10:15–11:30 am	Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus	Everett
1:00–2:15 pm	Germans in Russia	Vance
2:45–4:00 pm	Jewish Genealogy Research in the Russian Empire	Diamond
4:00–4:30 pm	Homework Assignment	Everett
Friday
8:00–8:30 am	Homework Review	Everett
8:30–9:45 am	Where are the Records? Accessing Archival Records	Everett
10:15–11:30 am	Tracing Immigrants: Discovering the Place of Origin and Family Context	Everett
1:00–2:15 pm	Locating the Ancestral Home and Record Jurisdictions using Maps & Gazetteers	Vance
2:45–4:00 pm	Research Methodology 2: Putting the Pieces Together (Part 2)	Everett

Introduction to Genetic Genealogy

Week 2

DNA

Paul Woodbury, MEd

In this hands-on course, students will master the basics of genetic genealogy research through hands-on application in a variety of investigative contexts. They will create testing plans incorporating such elements as which individuals to test, the types of tests to take and the companies to be used. They will also evaluate chances of success and needs for additional testing for a research objective given a set of test results, develop research plans given a set of DNA test results, and learn to abide by genetic genealogy ethics and standards. Participants will practice basic interpretation of Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA, X-DNA and autosomal DNA evidence within the context of traditional document research and evaluation of Y-DNA and mtDNA.

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Students will identify and evaluate likely relationships based on shared autosomal DNA and tree data, as well as explore possible sources of shared DNA for X-DNA matches. They will also interpret ethnicity reports for Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and autosomal DNA test results and formulate estimates regarding ethnic origins of the first few generations of ancestry. Additional skills participants will gain will include performing modern research, creating “quick and dirty” trees in the pursuit of an objective, collaborating and corresponding with genetic cousins, correctly citing genetic genealogy sources, organizing research to enable discovery, evaluating which approaches and methodologies would be best to utilize in a given research case, and incorporating DNA evidence into genealogical proof arguments.

Students will receive written feedback on daily homework assignments, in-class lab assistance, and a 15-minute DNA consultation to review a DNA goal, related results, and outline a research plan. (Consultations will be conducted outside of regular classroom hours by appointment.)

Level of Instruction

Intermediate

Prerequisites

Students should have experience in intermediate research in traditional genealogy and access to the test results of one autosomal DNA test.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $510.00
UGA Member Price: $460.00

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:30–9:45 am	Introduction to Genetic Inheritance	Woodbury
10:15–11:30 am	Biology Basics	Woodbury
1:00–2:15 pm	Developing DNA Testing Plans	Woodbury
2:45–4:00 pm	Overview of Common Methodologies	Johnson
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment	Jorgensen
Tuesday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Homework Review	Jorgensen
8:30–9:45 am	Get More Out of Your DNA Matches Through Organization	Leeds
10:15–11:30 am	An Introduction to DNA-Related Standards	Stanbary
1:00–2:15 pm	Ethical Considerations when Using DNA Test Results of Living People	Stanbary
2:45–4:00 pm	Genetic Genealogy Collaboration	Woodbury
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment	Jorgensen
Wednesday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Homework Review	Jorgensen
8:30–9:45 am	Interpreting Y-DNA and mtDNA Test Results	Bush
10:15–11:30 am	Understanding Ethnicity and Admixture	Bush
1:00–2:15 pm	Evaluating Shared Autosomal DNA and X-DNA	Larkin
2:45–4:00 pm	DNA Case Studies: Choose Your Own Adventure	Woodbury
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment	Jorgensen
Thursday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Homework Review	Jorgensen
8:30–9:45 am	Company Tools Part I	Jorgensen
10:15–11:30 am	Company Tools Part II	Jorgensen
1:00–2:15 pm	Third Party Tools for Autosomal DNA Analysis and Interpretation	Bush
2:45–4:00 pm	Hands-on Interpretation of DNA Test Results	Jorgensen
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment	Jorgensen
Friday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Homework Review	Jorgensen
8:30–9:45 am	Tools and Skills for Finding the Living	Johnson
10:15–11:30 am	Intersections of DNA and Document Evidence	Woodbury
1:00–2:15 pm	Bringing It All Together: Genetic Genealogy in Practice	Woodbury
2:45–4:00 pm	What's Next: Your Future in Genetic Genealogy	Larkin

Meeting Standards Using DNA Evidence

Week 1

DNA

Karen Stanbary, MA, LCSW, CG

Back by popular demand, this course is designed to deconstruct, and study researcher decisions, strategies, and methodologies employed in the correlation of documentary and genetic evidence to establish proven genealogical conclusions. Examples include case studies suitable for publication, research reports, and proof summaries/arguments useful in a Kinship Determination Project (KPD). The research problems are all long-standing genealogical brick walls that could not be solved without the skillful use of DNA and documentary sources. We will focus on a variety of strategies to meet the newly minted DNA-Related standards and the Genealogical Proof Standard.

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We will dissect familiar skills, with a DNA twist:

Crafting a meaningful research question
Developing and refining research plans
Mining for evidence
Correlating evidence
Sorting and grouping evidence
Analyzing with logic and inference
Testing hypotheses
Resolving conflicts
Reporting of findings
Writing clear proof arguments detailing evidence and reasoning to support the conclusion

And, we will meet daily for the DNA Dreamers, a "think-tank" focused on real-life "stuck" cases submitted by a handful of very lucky volunteers.

Level of Instruction

Advanced

Prerequisites

Requires previous completion of the following full-week institute courses at any genealogical institute in three categories:

Advanced Methodology, Advanced Genealogical Methods, Mastering Genealogical Proof;
Beginning DNA, Introduction to Genetic Genealogy, Practical Genetic Genealogy;
Establishing Genealogical Proof with DNA, Intermediate DNA, Chromosome Mapping, Advanced DNA (offered Summer 2019), or SLIG Virtual DNA Practicum (offered Fall 2019)

If a registrant does not meet the prerequisites, a work sample may be submitted for consideration that correlates genetic and documentary sources to establish a conclusion meeting the Genealogical Proof Standard.

Pre-reading Requirements

Board for Certification of Genealogists, Genealogy Standards, 2nd edition
Thomas W. Jones, Mastering Genealogical Proof
Debbie Parker Wayne and Blaine T. Bettinger, Genetic Genealogy in Practice
Thomas W. Jones, Mastering Genealogical Documentation
Elizabeth Shown Mills, Evidence Explained (the first two chapters)
Debbie Parker Wayne, ed. Advanced Genetic Genealogy: Techniques and Case Studies
Board for Certification of Genealogists, Rubrics for Evaluating New Applications for BCG Certification, 2019 edition; PDF, Board for Certification of Genealogists

Golden Nuggets

The class will collaborate on a “Golden Nuggets Quicksheet” of handy tips and strategies learned throughout the week.

Other Instructors

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:00–8:30 am	Course Overview and Golden Nuggets Brief introductions, lecture categories, tantalizing questions, DNA Dreamers, Golden Nuggets	Stanbary
8:30–9:45 am	The Genealogical Proof Standard Karen starts the week with a fun self-assessment designed to dispel the myths and thereby, bring the GPS into sharp focus.	Stanbary
10:15–11:30 am	DNA-Related Standards and Rubrics Karen discusses the new and modified DNA-Related standards and the associated rubrics focusing on the rationale for inclusion and the word choice for each standard. Rubrics will be presented with examples of Meets Standards, Partially Meets Standards and Does not Meet Standards.	Stanbary
1:00–2:15 pm	Research Strategies and Decision-Making This lecture reviews scientific research principles. The concepts provide a framework for analysis of case examples throughout the week. Identification of decision-making points and multiple options are emphasized.	Stanbary
2:45–4:00 pm	TBA	TBA
4:15–5:30 pm	Introduction to DNA Dreamers Throughout the week, we will discuss real-life case examples of volunteer participants. Each discussion will analyze a crucial decision point and brain-storm options for next steps in the research strategy. This mini-lecture will introduce the format of the optional written case to be submitted for discussion.	Stanbary
Tuesday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Homework Review
8:30–9:45 am	Ambiguous Evidence — The Greenfield Case Targeted autosomal-DNA testing yielded test results that could be interpreted in various ways. Identifying the father and grandparents of siblings born in New York State in the late 1820s required resolving the ambiguities. Besides showing the ambiguities' resolution, the case addresses decisions about identifying people to test, interpreting documentary research and DNA results together, and presenting the results in a coherent format.	Jones
10:15–11:30 am	Targeted Testing to Negotiate Pedigree Collapse — The Powell Case This case study seeks to identify the children of a couple that lived in rural Ohio and Western Pennsylvania in the mid-nineteenth century. The documentary evidence provides a compelling indirect proof argument identifying the children of Nancy Porter and William Powell. However, the evidence also brings into question the genetic relationship of the children as two of the children were born about nine months after the dates of alleged adultery by Nancy. William included specific dates and identified one of the adulterers in his divorce petition. Two of the Powell children marry spouses who share a common ancestor. Adding to the genetic landscape, Nancy is apparently a carrier of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Descendants of three of Nancy and William’s children suffer from this genetic blindness. William separated from his wife Nancy and later remarried a woman that appears closely related to him. They have at least five children. Will targeted testing solve the problem of who belongs to who? Do we have pedigree collapse?	R. Sayre
1:00–2:15 pm	Building a Proof of Parentage— Two Case Examples Both cases result in a proof of parentage useful in a Kinship Determination Project A Mormon Pioneer – The White Case (McGhie) Angela establishes proof of parentage in three generations of the White family, beginning with an 1826 birth in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The case correlates genetic evidence with documentary evidence, including LDS church records. Identification of an Irish Townland – The Hennessy Case (Johnson) Melissa deconstructs the resolution of a common brick wall — identification of the Irish townland of an immigrant ancestor. The case begins in Essex, New Jersey in the 1910s and winds up in Tipperary County, Ireland in the 1850s.	Johnson, McGhie
2:45–4:00 pm	Reconstructing the 18th Century Family — The Northamer Case If the identification of a Northamer ancestor in a Bair family record is proven false, why do Northamer and Bair descendants share DNA? Those distant genetic connections, correlated with indirect documentary evidence, reconstruct an eighteenth-century Chester County, Pennsylvania, family.	Desmarais
4:15–5:30 pm	DNA Dreamers Volunteer DNA Dreamers participate in a “Think Tank” to strategize next steps.	Stanbary
Wednesday
8:30–9:45 am	A BIG Research Project: Decisions by Stages — The Dalton Case	Stanbary
10:15–11:30 am	Proving Parentage Two Centuries Later — The White Case David deconstructs and recombines immigrant methodologies, documentary evidence, and genetic evidence (atDNA and Y-DNA) to prove the parentage of a poor French-Canadian immigrant in Vermont. The case begins with an 1805 birth in Quebec.	Ouimette
1:00–2:15 pm	Building a Client Research Report — The Rubio Case A client seeks information about his patrilineal line. Karen presents a reporting format to detail and correlate the genetic and documentary evidence used to confirm each father-son relationship. Documentary sources are drawn from sources in Chihuahua and Durango Mexico from the 1750s–1920s. Features complex correlation of multiple descendants of same and similar names on both sides of the border.	Stanbary
2:45–4:00 pm	Research Report to Self — The Kidd Case Family lore suggests Karen’s second great-grandmother, born about 1852 as the result of an assault a Native American biological father and a Caucasian biological mother, was adopted into a Native American family in Peoria and Fulton Counties, Illinois. Karen analyzes the documentary and genetic evidence in an ongoing Research Report to self.	Stanbary
4:15–5:30 pm	DNA Dreamers Volunteer DNA Dreamers participate in a “Think Tank” to strategize next steps.	Stanbary
Thursday
8:30–9:45 am	Organizing a Mass of Data to Structure a Useful Proof Argument — The Tucker Case A large network of serendipitous and targeted DNA test takers help identify the children of a Revolutionary War veteran in New York state. Research decisions included setting cM thresholds for relationships, ensuring representation from as many lines as possible in two genealogies, using DNA data from unreachable test takers, and portraying large numbers of test results in ways that other researchers and family members could comprehend.	Jones
10:15–11:30 am	A Hypothesized Enslaved African American Couple — The Garrett Case DNA evidence supports a family’s oral history regarding the identity of an enslaved ancestral couple, born about 1814-1817, in South Carolina. A genetic network revolving around a documented descendent is correlated with indirect evidence of kinship that links two other Garrett lines to the ancestral couple.	Garrett-Nelson
1:00–2:15 pm	Using Genetic Evidence to Generate a FAN Club — The Wax Case	Stanbary
2:45–4:00 pm	Two Freeborn Mulattos — The Rencher Case Identifying unnamed individuals using a Research Plan incorporating genetic evidence takes creativity and patience. This session deconstructs a case study using Genealogy Standards to align and correlate DNA results and fragmentary records for African American families, beginning in 1812 in Virginia and North Carolina.	Rencher
4:15–5:30 pm	DNA Dreamers Volunteer DNA Dreamers participate in a “Think Tank” to strategize next steps.	Stanbary
Friday
8:30–9:45 am	DNA Identifies Immigrant Origins — The Kujawski Case Melissa demonstrates the use of genetic matches to hypothesize an immigrant’s European origins. This case study begins in 1890 in Lackawanna and Luzene Counties, Pennsylvania and ends in the 1860s in the Kolo region of Poland. This results in a written indirect evidence case study.	Johnson
10:15–11:30 am	School of Hard Knocks (Panel) Lecturers will describe the lessons each learned about research decisions at the “School of Hard Knocks.” There will be an opportunity for participants to ask the panel questions.	Desmarais, Garrett-Nelson, Jones, Johnson, Ouimette, Rencher, Sayre, Stanbary
1:00–2:15 pm	Proof of Parentage with Conflicting Evidence — The Weyer Case, Then and Now Karen will deconstruct a proof of parentage she used in her own Kinship Determination Project written in 2015. The proof uses genetic evidence to resolve conflicting evidence identifying the parents of her second great-grandfather. She will update the research to tie in additional biological descendants and extend the biological pedigree using cluster analysis.	Stanbary
2:45–4:00 pm	Golden Nuggets and Certificates The class will work collaboratively to create a “Golden Nugget Quicksheet” — a handy summary of essential points learned throughout the week.	Stanbary

Advanced Genealogical Methods

Week 1

Methodology

Paul K. Graham, AG, CG, CGL

Students in Advanced Genealogical Methods will learn how to assemble and use evidence to rediscover ancestral origins, identities, and relationships that have been forgotten over the passage of time. The course will address advanced use of evidence derived from a variety of genealogical sources and will explore research techniques for populations for which the usual records are in short supply. Students will also learn how to document their research and develop written proof summaries to reach accurate conclusions and create a credible record of their findings for present and future generations of family historians.

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Level of Instruction

High intermediate

Prerequisites

This intense course is targeted to high intermediate genealogists who have completed an intermediate level methodology course or who have equivalent experiences. Their research has led them to encounter relationships that cannot be documented only with direct evidence. They have taken at least one DNA test.

Pre-reading

Students are encouraged to obtain and read Mastering Genealogical Proof prior to the start of the course. [Jones, Thomas W., Mastering Genealogical Proof (Arlington: National Genealogical Society, 2013), 26–27.]

Technology Requirements

Students will need access to a computer with Internet access to participate fully in the course.

Other Instructors

Tuition

Regular Price: $495.00
UGA Member Price: $445.00

Course Schedule

Times	Class Title	Instructor
Monday
8:30–9:45 am	Evidence and the Advanced Genealogist	Graham
10:15–11:30 am	Research Questions, Hypotheses, and Plans	Graham
1:00–2:15 pm	Documentation: Understanding and Citing Sources	Graham
2:45–4:00 pm	Federal Research: Government Documents	R. Sayre
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment	R. Sayre
Tuesday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Homework Review	R. Sayre
8:30–9:45 am	Military and Pension Records Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation	R. Sayre
10:15–11:30 am	Local Land Records: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation	Graham
1:00–2:15 pm	Bringing the Law to Bear on Complex Genealogical Problems	Russell
2:45–4:00 pm	Documentation: Transcribing, Abstracting, Extracting, and Quoting	Graham
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment	Graham
Wednesday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Homework Review	Graham
8:30–9:45 am	Advanced DNA Methods: Genetic Networks and Genetic Coverage	Woodbury
10:15–11:30 am	Communities and Clusters	Graham
1:00–2:15 pm	Enslaved, Peasant, and Other Impoverished Ancestors	Jones
2:45–4:00 pm	Probate Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation	Graham
4:00–4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment	Graham
Thursday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Homework Review	Graham
8:30–9:45 am	Correlating Sources, Information, and Evidence while Resolving Conflicts	Graham
10:15–11:30 am	Tax Roll Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation	Graham
1:00–2:15 pm	Federal Land Records: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation	R. Sayre
2:45– 4:00 pm	Writing Genealogy	Jones
4:00&ndash4:30 pm	Optional Homework Assignment	Graham
Friday
8:00–8:30 am	Optional Homework Review	Graham
8:30–9:45 am	Rural and Urban Map Strategies: Analysis, Interpretation, and Correlation	R. Sayre
10:15–11:30 am	Immigration and Migration	Graham
1:00–2:15 pm	Identifying Female Ancestors	Graham
2:45–4:00 pm	Continued Advancement	Graham

Guided Research and Consultation

Week 2

Guided Research

Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG, FUGA

Experience the power of having your own personal guide for an entire week as you research both online and at nearby archives, courthouses, or libraries, as they are available. Students will review progress and findings in regular one-on-one consultations throughout the week as they work on their own personal research projects.

SLIG 2021 Courses

Courses By Topic

Courses By Week

Rescheduled for 2022

From Sea to Shining Sea: Researching Our Ancestors' Migrations in America

Annette Burke Lyttle

Level of Instruction

Suggested Requirements

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

Advanced Techniques for Mastering Online Searches and Uncovering Digital Records

D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS

Level of Instruction

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

Advanced Practices in Social History

Gena Philibert-Ortega, MA, MAR

Level of Instruction

Prerequisites

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

Advanced Research Tools: Land Records

Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA

Level of Instruction

Prerequisites

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

Corpus Juris: Advanced Legal Concepts for Genealogy

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

Level of Instruction

Prerequisites

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

In-Depth African American Genealogy

LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL

Level of Instruction

Suggested Requirements

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

The Pennsylvania German and Research in the Keystone State

Michael D. Lacopo, DVM

Level of Instruction

Suggested Requirements

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

Show Me Missouri

Pamela Boyer Sayre, CG, FUGA

Level of Instruction

Requirements

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

Pre-1837 English Research: Digging Deeper

Paul Milner, MDiv, FUGA

Level of Instruction

Requirements

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

Mother Russia: Research in the Countries of the Former Russian Empire and USSR

Joseph B. Everett, MLS, AG

Level of Instruction

Requirements

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule

Introduction to Genetic Genealogy

Paul Woodbury, MEd

Level of Instruction

Prerequisites

Other Instructors

Tuition

Course Schedule