|
SLIG Spring Virtual 2026 Courses
Bringing Back the Love of Romance Language Paleography
Debbie Gurtler, AG and Lauren Wake, AG
 An understanding of paleographic principles is an integral part of genealogical research. This course will introduce students to the paleographic practices necessary to conduct genealogical records in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French speaking countries. Students will be given the resources to confidently extract genealogical information from parish, notarial, and inquisition records. Time will be given in class and through homework to practice reading records from the 19th century back to the 17th century.
Adoption In Genealogy: Research and Recording
Kristi L. Sexton, MS
There’s no doubt that researching female ancestors can be difficult. The records genealogist’s use doesn’t always include women by name. Women’s marital name changes coupled with the fact that women’s historical legal rights precluded them from activities that leave a record trail, make finding her story seem impossible.
Adoption is a vital and intricate part of many family histories, presenting unique challenges for genealogical research. This course is designed to equip genealogists with the knowledge and tools to approach adoption cases with sensitivity, accuracy, and ethical responsibility.
We will introduce the history and impact of US adoption practices on family history research. We will explore the differences between open and closed adoptions and discuss some historical events that drove many families to adopt. We will also discuss legal and ethical considerations, including privacy laws, the rights of adoptees and birth parents, and the complexities of contacting biological relatives.
We will uncover and access various records, helping the student understand where to find them and how to record them properly.
Ethical considerations surrounding contact in adoption cases will be thoroughly examined, ensuring that genealogists understand the potential emotional impacts and respect the boundaries of all parties involved; case studies will be used to illustrate the success and challenges of adoption research, offering examples of how to integrate biological and adoptive families into a coherent family tree.
Finally, we will address some psychological and emotional aspects of adoption, emphasizing the importance of empathy and ethical storytelling in sharing these stories with family.
Research in the US Northwest
Michelle Roos Goodrum, CG, Geri Auerbach, AG and Steven W. Morrison
  Tucked in the northwestern corner of the US, the Oregon Territory, organized in 1848, included present-day Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and part of western Montana and Wyoming. This course will guide students through the history and research of each state, repositories, records, and methodologies. Early migration trails to the region were many. Learn why and how settlers made the arduous and dangerous overland journey. Resources like diaries, wagon train rosters, emigrant guides, and where to find them are covered. US government land laws like the Donation Land Act, the Homestead Act of 1862, and others influenced when and where settlers moved and lived. Employment opportunities also played a role in the region's development and are covered. Women played an immense role in the settlement of the Northwest and will be covered throughout the course. Native Americans and other ethnic groups are also discussed. Students will develop a personal research guide based on a family or geographical area of interest. They will be able to share a project and receive feedback and suggestions. By the end of this course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of genealogical research in the Northwestern US and be equipped with the tools and knowledge to uncover their family history in this region.
All Aboard! Passenger Travel and Commerce on the U.S. Railroads (1826–1945)
Pamela J. Vittorio, MA, PLCGS
Have you ever wondered what it was like to cross the U.S. or Canada by train in the 19th and 20th centuries? Whether riding in coach or a luxury sleeper, train travel shaped migration, business, and our ancestors’ everyday lives. The year 2026 marks the bicentennial of the first “iron horse!”
Railroads revolutionized travel—for business, relocation, or pleasure—transforming emigrants’ journeys that once took months by wagon or stagecoach into a few days. By the mid-1800s, railroads connected rural territories to major cities, offering new opportunities, while also presenting dangers. Perhaps your ancestor witnessed a train robbery, an accident, or observed the construction of rail lines near their property.
Beyond passengers, railroads played a vital role in commerce. Did your ancestor own a farm, lumber yard, or a factory? Even if they never rode a train, their goods—coal, wheat, dairy products, livestock, or timber—may have traveled across counties or states by freight rail.
This course’s sessions are divided into four themes:
- Great Expectations – Meet the railroad barons who built empires, enticed emigrants with land offers, and fueled urban growth. Explore railroad stocks, the rise of boomtowns, and innovations that made train travel faster and more efficient.
- Doing Business – Follow the freight! Learn how railroads influenced agriculture, industry, and commerce. Learn about the economic impact of railroads through analysis of land records. We will follow shipping routes on maps use gazetteers, examine waybills and receipts, and discuss the roles of farmers, business owners, and even the U.S. Post Office in the success of the railroads.
- Riding the Rails – Explore the passenger experience, from ticket agents to luxury cars and emigrant trains. You may discover that your ancestor bore witness to a train robbery or railroad accident. Was your ancestor in the U.S. military? Find out how soldiers and equipment traveled by rail during the Civil War, and the railroad’s impact on the U.S. economy during WWI and WWII. Case studies will illustrate how these experiences can enhance your genealogical research.
- Routes and Records – Uncover migration patterns using land records, maps, gazetteers, and census data. While passenger lists are rare, railroad companies left behind a wealth of records—broadsides, newspaper ads and articles, and railroad ticket stubs. If our ancestors crossed U.S. borders on trains, that information often appears on U.S. immigration documents. We will use the diaries, journals, letters, and memoirs of travelers to help bring our ancestors’ journeys to life.
The course concludes with “Write on Time,” a session dedicated to applying research strategies to enrich family narratives. Whether your ancestors were passengers or business owners shipping freight, All Aboard! will help you tell their tales from the rails.
Advanced Workshop for Writing Our Ancestors’ Stories
Annette Burke Lyttle, MA, CG and Jenifer Kahn Bakkala
 This online workshop-style course is intended for those who already have experience with writing a genealogical narrative. Based on the concepts of “Bring ‘Em Back to Life: Writing the Stories of Our Ancestors,” this interactive follow-on class will feature advanced instruction, discussion, and planned writing time. The focus will be on writing ancestors’ stories in narrative style. This class is not intended for genealogical writing in journal or report style. Students will work on one piece of their own writing during the course, whether it be a stand-alone story or a portion of a larger story. Students will submit up to five pages of writing to the instructors during the process and will receive detailed feedback.
Reconstructing Ancestral Neighborhoods & Networks
Kimberly T. Powell, AG and Gerald H. Smith, CG
 Understanding the physical and social landscapes where our ancestors lived can be crucial to solving problems of identity, kinship, and origin. This hands-on, advanced course, for students with experience in land records and platting, offers critical skills and practical strategies for constructing community networks around elusive ancestors. We’ll explore the integration of advanced land platting techniques with modern mapping technologies and historical maps to place ancestors in a specific location, trace the development of the neighborhoods in which they lived, and uncover insights into historical relationships and migration patterns. In-class examples and exercises will also demonstrate triangulation techniques for determining approximate location from partial data and the use of reconstructed ancestral networks to identify key associates, disambiguate same-name people, and locate “missing” individuals. NOTE: See Prerequisites.
Navigating Federal Records Collections: A Researcher's Guide to Historical Discovery
Michael L. Strauss, AG
Explore the federal records of our nation through this extensive course aimed at enhancing the investigation of archival materials. Participants will acquire fundamental skills for exploring the extensive collections of the National Archives, Library of Congress, and various federal repositories, utilizing historical documents, photographs, maps, and artifacts that shed light on our national history. The incorporation of practical exercises featuring case studies will enhance the instructional quality of the course. Participants will acquire knowledge in utilizing finding aids, digital databases, and classification systems, while simultaneously honing their skills in document analysis, contextual interpretation, and research historiography. The course explores both in-person and digital access methods, proper handling of delicate materials, and strategies for piecing together compelling historical narratives from government records. Whether you're interested in genealogy, academic research, or public history, this course will equip you with the tools to become an effective historical investigator in federal records.
Intermediate Evidence Analysis Practicum
Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA and Karen Stanbary, LCSW, AM, CG, CGG
 This course provides an opportunity for genealogists to gain hands-on experience solving two genealogical cases. This will help participants put their research skills into practice while providing structure and guidance. Students will analyze background information, create a research plan, conduct research online, track their findings, analyze and correlate information, and report on conclusions.
The cases in this course address two of the most common research challenges: 1) dealing with multiple people with the same name, and 2) resolving conflicting evidence. The instructors will walk students through the process and teach the research strategies necessary to solve the cases. This experience will help prepare participants to take the Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum course or apply the skills to new research projects.
Students will work during the week on the case and then gather to discuss their progress with fellow classmates and the instructor. They will compare sources, strategies, and methodologies, discuss challenges, and receive guidance from the instructor. Students should plan 10–20 hours per week to work on the cases and record their findings.
|
|