Class List & Schedule

Class Descriptions:
(Electronic devices are welcome in all classes)

  1. Finding Records Using the Resources on FamilySearch
    Instructor: Dana Palmer
    Description: Many records exists online and in repositories. Learn how to use the resources on FamilySearch to find them.
  2. Effective Search Strategies on FamilySearch
    Instructor: Dana Palmer
    Description: Learn tricks to find your elusive ancestors in the historical records and catalog on FamilySearch
  3. Using Ohio Tax Records to Find Family
    Instructor: Dana Palmer
    Description: Tax records could be crucial to connect your family. Come learn about tax records available in Ohio and how to use them.
  4. Irish Research 1: The Beginning
    Instructor: Mike Garrambone
    Description: This presentation is the result of a friend asking for help in finding their Irish ancestors and wanting to know exactly where they came from in Ireland. The story begins with very little information causing serious searching in nearby Ohio counties. You will see how we found those Irish kin who arrived around 1850. Honestly, up front, it was not known how difficult the process was going to be, but the search was fun, most interesting and rewarding. There was some luck to be found here, but then again, they were Irish. Come here the tale of discovery that you might someday do the same.
  5. Scanning and Images 2: The Poop, the Scoop, and the Skinny
    Instructor: Mike Garrambone
    Description: This is the second lesson on scanning and images that explores several additional and very interesting topics to help you get those colorful items into your genealogy documents. We begin with a short review and talk about images, their sizes and shapes, and their appearance in your computer, on your electronic screens, and lastly coming out of various color printers. Like the first lesson, we will again discuss the common file formats and what might be best for your purposes. We will talk about how images show up on screens and then demonstrate a variety of tricks you can use to make changes to your images to better fit your needs. We will introduce text, OCR and PDF; stretching and compressing, and how those image editors and PowerPoint can be used to manipulate those colorful dots..
  6. Fundamental Mysteries 4: They Want You to Find Them
    Instructor: Mike Garrambone
    Description: Come learn some useful ideas how rebuilding an old family photo album helped track down an elusive relative. This adventure has many twists and turns, but the discoveries made are fantastic. 
  7. Fundamental Mysteries 1: Simple Ideas in Performing Research
    Instructor: Mike Garrambone
    Description: All genealogists know that there are some fundamental pieces of research knowledge that they learned along the way to help them make their most wonderful finds. These ideas are so simple that they are almost always over looked, but in fact were the very thoughts that made tremendous contributions to their ancestor’s searches. This presentation is about those wonderful yet very simple ideas. You will hear about those enlightened thoughts that everyone needs to know and the hidden quirks that provided those wonderful breakthroughs that we all embrace as family history researchers. No smoke, no mirrors, just fundamental mysteries and amazing discoveries for you to learn about and enjoy.
  8. A Research Trip Around Ohio
    Instructor: Peggy Lauritzen
    Description: Ohio genealogists are often asked about the best facilities for researching when descendants return home to trace their ancestry.  This presentation will highlight some of the most productive facilities when you only have so much time to spend.
  9. Analysis and Correlation: A case study on family missing in the census summary
    Instructor: Peggy Lauritzen
    Description: The US Federal Census is one of the first places researchers go to research their families. It’s a beginning genealogist’s dream to see their family lines build. But do we return and check our research as often as we should? This case study visits a family that we would often assume as just being missed by the enumerator. But, there was so much  more going on.
  10. FamilySearch and your British Research
    Instructor: Peggy Lauritzen
    Description: FamilySearch can take you around the world without leaving your home.  This class will help you as you take your first steps in foreign research — when you aren’t quite sure how to.
  11. Up in Smoke! What to do when the courthouse burns
    Instructor: Peggy Lauritzen
    Description: War and natural disasters have taken their toll on many of our nation’s county courthouses.  Let’s look at some helpful sources that may still exist.
  12. Ohio genealogy Databases
    Instructor: Anne Wachs
    Description: Discover what every Ohio public library has! See what you can find with just a simple library card from subscription databases such as Ancestry Library Edition, Fold3, Heritage Quest and African American Heritage with the help of a local librarian.
  13. How to use Newspapers.com and NewspaperArchive.com
    Instructor: Anne Wachs
    Description: Learn to navigate the newspaper archive owned by Ancestry.com! With over 10,000 worldwide newspapers, some dating back to the late 1600’s, a wealth of genealogy primary source materials is at your fingertips
  14. Hierarchy of Research Archives in Ohio
    Instructor: Kelli Bergheimer
    Description: Do you have Ohio ancestors? Learn about the hierarchy and collections of genealogical libraries, archives, and repositories in Ohio. Find some hidden gems to visit in person or to search online.
  15. Successful Online Genealogical Searching
    Instructor: Kelli Bergheimer
    Description: Learn tips and tools for successful searching online. Learn about browsers, search engines, and Boolean operators. How can you find some help with genealogical terminology and citations? Find some gems in WorldCat, Google books, PERSI, and more.
  16. Cemetery Records – Dead Relatives Tell All
    Instructor: Jim Phillabaum
  17. Military Records – What You Can Find
    Instructor: Jim Phillabaum
  18. Beginning Genealogy: Uncovering Your Roots
    Instructor: Janet Parker
    Description: This class will aid the beginner in answering the ‘Where Do I Start’ question. We’ll explore how to be successful in finding your family with emphasis on lineage society application submissions.
  19. Cemetery Records (Including grave finding or dowsing)
    Instructor: Dick Gualt
  20. Appalachian Research
    Instructor: Dick Gualt
    Description: In depth look at the Appalachian People, types of records and location of records. Brother vs Brother during the Civil War and its effects on many future generations.
  21. Immigration/Migration Research
    Instructor: Dick Gualt
    Description: From New World Settlement, Colonial Times and British Rule, to the Early times of our Country.
  22. Federal Records
    Instructor: Dick Gualt
    Description: A look at where to access Federal Records in your Research at the National Archives and other Locations/Departments that house important resources.
  23. One on one consultations
    Instructor: Karynne Moses
    Description: Work one on one with a professional genealogist, to help resolve your research road blocks.
  24. Q&A session
    Instructors: All
    Description: Get answers to your research questions from our panel of genealogists.