Lectures Offered

Note that most lectures are 45 minutes in length which allows time for questions.  Lectures can be modified based on your needs.
Lectures may be given in person, or via a platform such as zoom, gotowebinar, etc.
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A NEW category of Historical Interest lectures is included below - these are shorter and geared toward community groups.  The shorter lectures do not contain much information for the genealogical researcher.

Basic Genealogy

Education for Genealogists - NEW lecture!

Are you interested in learning more about Genealogical Techniques?  Not sure where to start?  This lecture will delve into all of the many educational opportunities available - ranging from the comfort of your own home to conferences to institutes and more.

Genealogy 101

This lecture is geared to the beginning genealogist or a non-genealogical community group.  Information on how to get started tracing your ancestors is provided.

Record Types

 Clues in the Cemetery: Digging Deeper for Buried Treasure  

Have you thought about digging deeper in the cemetery? Find the information about your ancestors that lies buried in the records. There is more to learn about the deceased if we look beyond the dates on the tombstone.
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Death Records: Moving from When and Where to How and Why

Many people use death records to learn about the date and place of their ancestor's demise. There is much more information to be found about the person's life. This lecture explores different types of death records such as: death certificates, tombstones, and obituaries. ​
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Following Your Family in the Federal Census - NEW lecture!

​Using the census is a basic skill that every genealogist should know. We can learn many details about our families by tracking them every decade.
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Local Histories Add Clues and Color to your Genealogy

Local histories are often maligned as inaccurate sources. However, used correctly, these local histories can be very helpful, by providing clues for further research.
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Life after Death: Probate Records Provide Clues to our Ancestors - NEW lecture!

We can learn much about our ancestors' lives by studying the records after their death - not just family information but clues to their occupations, education level and interests.
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Untying the Knot: Divorce Records

Divorce Records can offer details about the marriage as well as provide insight into our ancestor's personalities. 
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Lineage Societies

Lineage Societies: The What, Why, and How 

Everything you ever wanted to know about lineage societies but were afraid to ask - the who, what, when, where and how of joining groups like the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames and Mayflower Society are discussed.
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Specialized Lineage Societies: More than the DAR, Dames and Mayflower 

There are over 200 lineage societies that exist today - more than the commonly known societies. Perhaps you have an ancestor that was accused of witchcraft? A founder of a town? A colonial tradesman? British royalty? There is a society for all of these and many more.
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Successful Lineage Society Applications - NEW lecture!

There is more to a successful application than just filling in names, dates, and places.  A successful application requires knowledge of the specific organization and their requirements.
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Medical Genealogy

Dropsy, Quinsy, or Consumption: Just exactly what did my ancestor have?

Have you ever wondered what some of the medical terms found on old documents really mean? What is the modern term for those diseases? Was it treatable? Was it contagious? Was this an epidemic? This lectures discusses several commonly used terms for medical ailments.
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Migrations

The National Road - America's First Highway 

​​The National Road extended from Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois.  It was built in the early 19th century to aid settlers in their westward migration.  Many of our midwestern ancestors traveled on, and settled near, the national road.  
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Techniques

Attacking from Both Sides: Combining Ascendant and Descendant Research - NEW lecture

When we believe we are stuck moving backward, it may be helpful to trace our ancestors forward in time.  This lecture offers examples of working from both sides to solve a problem.
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Moving Forward by Looking Back - UPDATED lecture

We often feel that we are facing a brick wall, when in fact, we already have the information needed to burst through it. This lectures discusses techniques to revisit that information in order to move forward with our research.
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Special Groups

Russian? I thought my ancestors were German! - NEW lecture

​The Germans from Russia form a unique ethnic group in the Midwest and Great Plains states.  Despite these families having lived in Russia for over a century, they maintained many of their German language and customs.

Historic Interest

NOTE: The following lectures are about 20 minutes in length and are suitable for lineage group meetings, or community groups.  They are not primarily for a genealogical audience.

A Visit with Mrs. Belle Squire

Mrs. Belle Squire was very active in the Women's Suffrage Movement and the "No Vote No Tax League" in Chicago.  She will tell you of her life, as well as that of other suffragists.

The Colonial Doctor Will See You Now

American Colonists had interesting and creative methods of treating illness.  This is an interactive program that describes some of these early treatments.

The National Road - America's First Highway

The National Road extended from Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois.  It was built in the early 19th century to aid settlers in their westward migration.  This is a shorter version of the above lecture that highlights the history of the road.

Witches in Colonial America 

While the Witch hysteria in Salem, MA in 1692 is probably the most well-known, there were hundreds of other people accused or suspected of witchcraft in the 1600's.  This lecture discusses some of these events, and how to determine if your ancestor was one of the accused.