Lectures & Speaking Schedule
Upcoming Schedule
Mon, Sep 22, 2008
Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society
@ Webster Memorial Library
200 N. Phelps St.
Decatur, MI
7:00 P.M. How to Manage a Large Project
Thu, Oct 9, 2008
Ingham County Genealogical Society
@ Vevay Township Hall
780 Eden Road
Mason, MI
7:00 P.M. Putting It All Together
Sat, Oct 18, 2008
Holland Genealogical Society
@ Herrick Public Library
300 River Ave
Holland, MI
1:00 P.M. When to Hire a Professional Researcher
Tue, Nov 11, 2008
Grand Rapids Home for Veterans
3000 Monroe N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI
2:00 P.M. Company K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters
Thu, Oct 15, 2009 through Sat, Oct 17, 2009
2009 MGC Seminar hosted by the Midland Genealogical Society
@ Valley Plaza Resort & Convention Center
5221 Bay City Rd.
Midland, MI
Several Talks over both days.
NOTE: There is a charge for this conference. Follow link for more information.
I have been interested in Genealogy and Local History since the mid-70s,
having served as President of the Detroit Society for Genealogical Research, Inc, and President
of the Oakland County Genealogical Society.
I have been the index editor of the DSGR Magazine since 1994
and the current Vice-President of the Calhoun County Genealogical Society.
In addition to articles published in Genealogical Computing, Genealogical Helper,
Heritage Quest and Keywords (published by the
American Society of Indexers),
I have written The Guide to the First Fifty Years of the DSGR Magazine, (selected
as one of the 50 most useful genealogical resources by the
Michigan Genealogical Council
), and The List of Pensioners
on CD-ROM published by Heritage Quest.
I was honored to receive the 2006 Lucy Mary Kellogg Award from the
Michigan Genealogical Council
for "significant contribution to the preservation and education of Genealogy and History."
I have taught genealogical classes and presented talks to
various local and national Societies, including
the Michigan Genealogical Conference in Troy, MI (1987),
the Great Lakes Conference in Fort Wayne, IN (1994),
the Local History Conference in Grand Rapids, MI (2002),
Tracing Our Ancestor's Footsteps in Bloomfield Hills, MI (2005),
Tracing Our Ancestor's Footsteps II (2006),
and the American Society of Indexers 2007 Conference in Philadelphia, PA.
Member of Association of Professional Genealogists and
Genealogical Speakers Guild.
Some of my current talks are listed below:
ABC's of Indexing:
Creating an every-name index is an art, not a science.
It is important to think the process through and be aware of pitfalls to avoid before beginning any project.
These guidelines are important to consider for Society publications, genealogies or a family reunion booklet.
Beyond the Federal Population Schedule:
Why bother with State, Agricultural, Industrial and Mortality Schedules?
What years were they used, what information do they contain and how do you access them today.
These schedules compliment the regular census schedules and provide a fuller picture of
life in the 19th century.
Census Research:
The U.S. population census schedules from 1790 to 1930.
A variety of records are examined to demonstrate handwriting samples, family relationships and hidden ancestors.
Also covered are agricultural, manufacturing and mortality schedules, along with using indices and the SOUNDEX.
Company K of the Michigan First Sharpshooters:
This company was completely composed of enlisted men (and one officer) from Michigan Ojibwa (Chippewa), Ottawa and Potawatomi tribes.
After training at the U.S. Detroit Arsenal at Dearbornville, they were sent for guard duty at Camp Douglas in Chicago.
They saw action in the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, the Battle of the Crater and Weldon Railroad.
Some soldiers were captured and sent to Andersonville prison.
Getting around the brick-wall:
We all reach the end of the trail on some of our branches.
As Churchill said, "Never, never, never give up!"
By trying variant spellings, little used sources, and having just a little luck, you may break through that wall.
How about really analyzing the sources you already have? There may be hidden clues there.
Don't forget boundary changes through the years - are you really looking in the right place?
And don't overlook finding aids and resources that are available for free on the internet.
How to Locate Missing (Living) Persons:
Searching for living relatives is different than typical genealogy research.
Where do you begin when someone disappeared without a trace.
Many methods and tips that may help find old neighbors, military or school friends, birth-parents and adoptees.
The Irish Brigade in the Civil War:
The "Irish Brigade" included men of Irish descent in the 28th Massachusetts,
63rd New York, 69th New York, 88th New York and 116th Pennsylvania. They fought at Bull Run,
Antietam, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. This talk goes beyond this famous Irish Brigade
to include other Irish companies, such as Company A of the 23rd Illinois formed at Chicago,
which was composed of Detroit Irishmen who couldn't get into the original Brigade.
Managing a Large Project: Or How I Indexed Over One Million Entries from 400 Unrelated Sources.
With any project, it's good to have a plan.
With a large project, it is essential.
The scope of this session includes breaking the entire project into manageable tasks;
identifying a coding system for multi-volume sources that will be merged into one master index;
ongoing maintenance; measuring progress;
how to successfully sort over a million records; and posting the results on a website.
Planning a Productive Summer/Genealogy Vacation:
Planning to travel for fun and genealogy this summer?
Whether it's a family reunion, cemetery or courthouse several states away,
or a research expedition closer to home,
tips on organizing and preparing for the trip to improve productivity and create the best opportunity for success.
If you have no plans, how about some packaged trips from Societies or Elderhostel that occur year-round.
Putting It All Together:
Most lectures focus entirely on a particular type of record or research methodology, i.e. family
records, church and civil records, census research, land records, military service, etc.
This presentation follows one pioneer family (Laura Ingalls and Almonzo Wilder), through
their travels 'Out West', examining the many records that were generated and left behind.
Tracing Your Civil War Ancestors:
Information on soldiers' military experience and later life is available from federal, state and local records.
Some of these records have been reproduced on CDs or available online.
Many useful internet research sites are presented.
Vital Records:
Civil records pertaining to birth, marriage and death.
This information holds the skeleton of your family line and can point you in other directions when used correctly.
County boundary line changes are also discussed.
What I learned by indexing over 500,000 Civil War Soldiers:
Some of the terms, unusual listing and oddities hidden in the many volumes of Civil War reference works.
When to Hire a Professional Researcher:
There comes a time when hiring someone to help with your research makes economical sense.
Some certification agencies and procedures to protect yourself when you enter into this type of business transaction.
Good for people on both sides of the contract.