Absolutely Basic – How to Enter Data Right the First Time – by Leslie Edmunds

This class is committed to be absolutely basic, catering specifically to the needs of the first time or beginning family historian.  In this class, we will go over pedigree charts, family group sheets, naming conventions, dating conventions and place naming conventions.  It will be a demonstration of tips and techniques that will stand the test of time as you document your family history.  We will also go over how to publish your family history online and get others helping you.  There is enough content here to interest the intermediate family historians also.

 Absolutely Basic - How to Start – by Leslie Edmunds

This class is committed to be absolutely basic, catering specifically to the needs of the first time or beginning family historian.  In this class we will go over the Decisions to Make Now and Save Yourself Time Later.  It will be a discussion of the pros and cons for the choices you need to make.  We will go over some lingo and boost your confidence when talking with the old-timers. 

Absolutely Basic – Organizing Artifacts and Documents – by Leslie Edmunds

This class is committed to be absolutely basic, catering specifically to the needs of the first time or beginning family historian.  In this class, we will go over how to organize and review your artifacts and documents to get the most you can out of each item to aid you in finding new family members.  We will look at examples that follow the rules and explain why the rules are important.  Then, we will review a list of alternate sources that could contain the information you are looking for to complete your family history.  As I always say about this class, it is the most basic and obvious thought provoking class that will bring you the most success in the future.  Many past students support that statement.  There is enough content here to interest the intermediate family historians also.

Advanced U.S. Census (1790 to 1840) – by Dave Thaler

Discover the benefits of census tracking and learn how to glean new information from your census data using logical assumptions.  Strategies include comparing census records for families as they move and change over time, making head of household censuses (pre-1850 U.S. censuses) meaningful and useful, and improving deductions and analysis skills.

Attic Clues and Family Lore in Breaking Through a Brick Wall – A Real Case Irish Family History Scenario – by Janice Blackhurst

This class will walk through the analytical steps and resources and records used to break through a brick wall on an Irish ancestor’s family history.  The presenter will review the family information that was known at the outset, other family resources, family lore and data that was collected, and walk through the analysis and record sources used to ultimately find new information on this Northern Ireland family. The time period covered is from the early 1800s to early 1900s.

Bagging a Live One: Connecting with Cousins You Never Knew You Had – by Mary E (Kircher) Roddy

Bagging a live one is often a bigger rush than finding the dead ones. Bagging a live one who knows something about family history is gold.  In this talk I will show you how you can find distant relatives, perhaps ones you never knew existed. Rather than trolling surname or location lists for other researchers with a common interest, you will come away with the skills to identify specific people to look for. These people may not be active researchers, but might be the ones who inherited the family bible or box of photos, or maybe they can pass on some stories Grandma told them. Collecting and organizing the bits of data I’ll teach you to find – a birthdate, a location, a maiden name – will help you connect with a “new” cousin. If you are as lucky as I have been, some of these new cousins will soon become old friends.

Beginning U.S. Census Research: U.S. Federal and State Censuses – by Kaylene Thaler

Many U.S. Federal and State Censuses from 1850 - 1930 are a valuable source for familial relationships.  Come learn where to look online to find census information, and how to use MagiCensus, a computer program, to organize and record your census information.  MagiCensus simplifies “census tracking”, a methodology for doing census research, by automatically generating tables to organize census research.  We’ll also discuss knowing where to look to find state censuses to help to fill the 10 year gap between Federal Census years.

Beyond Dates and Places – Discovering the Stories of Your Ancestors – by Eva Doherty Gremmert

The daily sights and sounds, scents and foods, accents and laughter, music and dancing that we experience are a part of the fabric of our lives. These things were a part of our ancestors’ lives as well. Researching, collecting books, periodicals, letters, photos, and keepsakes create a tapestry of life in the towns and town lands of your ancestors. In addition to research and historical facts, gathering other information will help make your ancestors story come alive. Learn the techniques to create a wonderful family story and the processes to publish and distribute your ancestors’ story.

The Black Towns Project, Part 1 – by Andre Head

This workshop will explore the results of “The Black Towns Project, Part I”, providing participants with the rich history and overview of The Crown Jewel:  Boley, Oklahoma.  During the presentation, Andre’ will share details of a particularly intriguing story uncovered during his extensive Boley research, “An American Tragedy – The Loss of Laura Nelson”.

Case Study of Richard Brockbank of the Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley – by Eric Stroschein

The top secret Rebel project, the Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley, sunk three different times killing 21 men. With the discovery of the sub in 1995 many of its mysteries are being answered. Most of the crewmembers of the Hunley remain enigmas and many historians believe the stories of these men of the Hunley died when they did. Eric Stroschein has unlocked the secrets of one of those crew members and solve a 150 year mystery of history. Learn how to solve complex genealogical questions with this example of an exhaustive search.

El Poder de Formar Redes – by Don Doud

Enseñado en español por Don Doud.  Una clase nueva con intento de ayudarles a principiantes a major entender técnicas en línea y fuera de línea.  Temas incluyen poner información en tableros de mensajes, investigar mediante correo electrónico, incscribirse en informativos y grupos en línea, contactarles a bibliotecarias en su área de interés, hablar con conocidos y cooperar con grupos de interés semejante.  Un poquito de lenguaje do computadoras, per a un paso más despacito.

England On-line - Part 1 – by Godfrey and Merry Ellis

An updated class focusing on online research techniques for England. Topics in Part 1 include geography and maps, church records (Church of England & Non-Conformist) for baptisms, marriages and burials and civil registration records. Applicable to England. Part 1 and Part 2 are self-contained classes. Attend one or both depending on your needs.

England On-line - Part 2 – by Godfrey and Merry Ellis

An updated class focusing on online research techniques for England. Topics in Part 2 include census 1841 to 1901, parish chest materials, military records, wills, probates and tombstones. We will also take a look at www.genuki.com. Applicable to England. Part 1 and Part 2 are self-contained classes. Attend one or both depending on your needs.

Germans from Russia – by Jean Roth

The unique ethnic group known as "Germans from Russia" has a broad history from the 18th century migration from Germany to Russia's Volga River Region at the invitation of the Empress Catherine the Great to the 19th century migration to Black Sea and Crimean settlements under Czar Alexander I, and the mass migrations to North and South America prior to the Russian Revolution and finally exile to Siberia in 1941 for those left behind. In 1991, the fall of the Soviet Union opened up exciting research possibilities once thought impossible to obtain. Through the efforts of organizations like the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, the Germans from Russia Heritage Society, the new Center for Volga German Studies, and a dedicated group of volunteers - Russian Archives have opened. Researchers from all over the world are coming together to share their family histories.

Germans from Russia: Where Did They Really Come From? – by Karla Walters

If your ancestors were “Germans from Russia,” they could have been living anywhere from Poland to the Black Sea. This overview will consider the gradual eastward migration of German-speaking people from the 1700’s onwards, reasons for their eastward migration, hardships they faced that ultimately led to their scattering completely, often to North and South America, and how to locate and work with the genealogical records of these families in Poland and Ukraine.

Getting Started with Computer Genealogy Using Legacy – by Sherry Holthe

This class will answer questions for people new to computer genealogy and Legacy. What can a genealogy computer program do for me? Is it easy to use? How do I get started?

Giving Back to Genealogy via the Internet – by Ginny Sommarstrom

Family history research cannot be done in a vacuum. We’ve all benefitted from other’s research and assistance. This talk will demonstrate a wide range of ways YOU can help others with their research, and probably some resources you never knew existed.

Homesteads and the Bounty Lands – Land Records at the National Archives – by Eric Stroschein

Our relatives came to the United States for many reasons. Many were farmers, agribusiness men, soldiers, miners, loggers, or adventurers. What these groups had in common was an opportunity to receive free land. All of the processes to receive that land included an application process. A wealth of family information, immigration records, and more can be found in these files. Together we will examine the types of records, the value of the records, and how to access the records.

Ireland’s Troubling History – by Jean Roth

British Colonialism’s effect on Irish genealogy. The Scots Irish and the Plantation period, Massacre in Northern Ireland, the Cromwellian invasion, Penal Laws, The Famine, the Irish Diaspora and Emigration; and the 19^th and 20th century destruction of records.

Irish Family History Research – by Eva Doherty Gremmert.

In addition to learning about the various types of Irish genealogical records available, you will learn that understanding the historical, cultural, economic and political influences on Irish families of this period will help you in your own Irish family research. We will also discuss what research is important to do at home before you embark on your dream genealogy trip to Ireland.

Irish Land Records – by Ann Lamb

In the absence of Census records, the best and most easily available resources for locating an Irish family in place and time are the "Tithe Applotments" (1820s) and "Griffith's Valuation" (1848-1864). Where do you find these valuable records? How do you use them? How do you interpret what you find? What do you do next? This class will lead you through the process of finding the answers you need.

New and Improved FamilySearch – by Leslie Edmunds

This class is designed for all levels of experience except that I have to talk fast to cover everything you want to see.  I will review the features of the new FamilySearch website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

New England and New York Colonial Migrations – by Dave Thaler

Indian wars and the years leading to the American Revolution saw the New England frontier move from the Atlantic Coast. In search of religious freedom, and to profit from land development schemes, settlers moved from Eastern Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York westward from those states and into Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Organizing and Correcting Information on New FamilySearch – by Leslie Edmunds

This class is designed for all levels of experience.  However, I am going to focus mostly on fixing errors and won’t be going slow enough during that portion of the class for the absolute beginner.  The current condition of the information at New Family Search is what it is.  I can share with you how I think it got that way, but we won’t spend a lot of time complaining.  We are going to spend the time fixing.  We will go over the basics of how to start and show you the most helpful things you can do to clean up the information.  Then, we will immediately go to the most effective technique for fixing the major errors.  We will also spend time practicing how to link and fix files effectively so that you don’t inadvertently create more errors.  I’ll also explain what not to do and why and then I’ll spend a portion of time fielding your questions.  After this class, just two weeks of heavy hitting fixing could really get your family in order on this site.  And, you may just find a bit of hidden information that moves you forward on some of your brick-wall ancestors.

Power of Networking – by Don Doud

A class with a commitment to beginners covering on-line and off-line techniques.  Topics include posting to message boards, emailing for look ups, joining on-line newsletters and groups, contacting librarians in the locality, talking to acquaintances, and working with interest groups.  A little computer talk at an understandable pace.

Researching with Legacy – by Sherry Holthe

This class will cover how Legacy can help you fill in the holes in your research by using Research Guidance, Search the Internet for Current Person and Search the IGI Website.

U.S. Land Records – by Kaylene Thaler

Back by popular demand, this class focuses on using this alternate source for genealogical information. Applicable to all states in the US during all periods of time.  Especially useful for the 1700 – 1850’s; example information from Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia and Kansas. Topics include understanding land record documents, using its information in place of a census, finding women, quirks and tricks that will make it possible to find the right records and key research helps. This class is not just about finding land records, it's about using them.

Using Newspapers for Family History Research – by Ginny Sommarstrom

If you're not using newspapers to enhance your research, you're missing an incredibly rich resource. This talk will show you the kinds of information available in historical newspapers and where you can find them.

We Ain’t Just Whistling Dixie – Records of the Blue and the Gray – by Eric Stroschein

Records of the Civil War are everywhere in the United States. Although pension records have left an incredible amount of data for genealogist many more records exist. The Union had the most records that survived the war but if you know where to look there are many Confederate records to be accessed. This presentation explores many of the types of pertinent records and the locations they can be found

Writing “YOUR” Own LifeStories – by Delores Davis

Discussion on Why, How and What to include in writing the stories of your life. An interactive discussion and presentation designed to assist you, the writer, in telling the stories of your life, the joys, struggles and the experiences witnessed during your lifetime. Items that mattered to you. The presentation is geared to providing you with the tools needed to make your story interesting reading with suggestions on research, organization, ideas to keep you motivated and develop ways for dealing with personal challenges and addressing difficult topics from family and others. Creating a written history of your experiences by and for yourself to be passed on to children, grandchildren, family members or others.

Janice Blackhurst has researched her own family genealogy and genealogies for many other friends and acquaintances for over 20 years.  She turned her passion for genealogy into a profession in 2009 and has worked with many clients and a couple of genealogical companies. Janice was raised on the east coast of the United States and also spent several years living in Southeast Asia. She received her degree in Spanish from Brigham Young University. She has volunteered her services as a Family History Consultant at the LDS church. She is a member of the NSDAR Washington State David Douglas Chapter, and the Association of Professional Genealogists – Puget Sound Chapter.

In her own family history work, her research has taken her to New England, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Utah, England, Ireland and especially extensive research in Georgia. She is working on accreditation in the Gulf South States of the U.S. . Her client work has included most states in the U.S., projects for Ireland, Canada, England and Wales, Italy, Slovakia, Poland, Belgium, Cuba and the Cayman Islands.

Carol Buswell is the Education Specialist for the National Archives at Seattle, which holds the permanently valuable federal government documents for Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Carol has taught elementary and junior high school in various settings, from a one-room school house in Oregon to a special education classroom in the Los Angeles Public School system, both as a full-time educator and a substitute teacher.  The majority of her full-time experience was spent in middle school and special education classrooms in Colorado and Oregon.

Immediately prior to working for the National Archives, Carol worked as an author, public speaker, professional genealogist, and owner of an American Indian antique shop and bookstore.  She has published articles and books about American Indian migration, genealogy, and historical issues.

Carol is certified to teach elementary school in Washington and several other states. She holds her BA in Elementary Education and Fine Art from Western State College of Colorado and a master’s degree in American Indian Studies from UCLA.

Delores Davis, a retired social worker, with over 30 years’ experience in the field, became interested in Genealogy and writing family history after her husband died and her children expressed a lack of knowledge about their father and their extended family. Only one of all of the extended family lived in the Western part of the United States.

After retirement from the University hospital, she started teaching computer skills to seniors through SeniorNet of Puget Sound and later other Community centers in the Greater Puget Sound area and in the year 2000 created and taught the class “Writing Your Life Story” which is still on-going. In addition, beginning in 2004 Delores started presenting seminars on the subject and the importance of sharing life stories. This was done in the community with the “Family History Expo of the Latter Day Saints” “African American Family History Workshop”, ”Washington State Genealogy Conference” and several other local community groups. She recently created and started a class with the Senior Housing Assistance Group. (SHAG) and has been featured in articles in “Seattle Woman” and “Nostalgia” magazines.

Mother of 6, grandmother of 20, Delores has created several family books including; “The Gift of Memories”1989, “The Male Connection” 1995, “God’s Blessing to me” 1998  “Turning Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones” 2001, “From Slavery  to High Finance” 2005 and “Grandmother before the Computer Age” 2007. This year she completed “Memories Two” and “Reflections”.

Leslie Edmunds ,an insomniac by trade, has turned the wee hours of the morning into a gold mine for family history research.  She has taught classes at various FH centers and Expo's around the area.  Leslie's can do attitude has helped her develop several methods for break-through research knocking down those brick-wall ancestors.  Leslie has developed her expertise through experience with her only family and with helps so many other families.  Leslie shares tips and techniques that really work and get you moving forward.  Fun, exciting and easy to follow, you won't be sleeping through her classes.

Eva Doherty Gremmert is a professional genealogist specializing in Irish research.  She also has extensive family history research experience in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom and the Ukraine.  Eva has spent over 30 years traveling in the US and Europe, doing her own research as well as helping others gather their family history.

Her greatest joy comes when she unites clients with long lost relations.  In 2001, Eva was named the Worldwide Reunion Coordinator for the O’Dochartaigh clan, and has organized three major clan gatherings.  During each reunion hundreds of O’Dochartaighs have enjoyed the ten days of festivities and tours of the clans Ulster homeland.  She is a founding member of the Irish Genealogical and Historical Society and currently is on the board of directors.  Eva has researched and published six books on her family history, including a historical fiction novel based on the life of her Irish great-grandmother.  She hosts two major genealogy research websites.  Eva and her husband Arden have four children and four grandchildren.  They maintain homes in Carnation, WA and Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, Ireland.

André Head brings over twenty years of managerial experience to his quest for historical confirmation and family research.  Having served as Experience Music Project’s (EMP) Manager of Safety and rising to the same position at Chateau Ste Michelle, Andre’ taught at Central State University (Health and Safety courses) while devoting his ‘first career’ to the Fire Service in his native Oklahoma.  A bona fide and retired Fire Chief (!!), Andre was appointed Chief of Fire Services after serving earlier posts as Fire Marshal, as an Arson Investigator,  as a Life Safety Instructor  prior to moving to Washington to live with his new bride!  In his retired life, Andre’ serves as a Certified Canine Officer with a private Security contractor.

An avid genealogist, Andre’ has devoted years of research to family heritage, having discovered and collected records, anecdotes, and other data on six-plus generations of his own family!  Drawn to his most recent project through research on cemeteries of Oklahoma-born family descendants, Andre’ has produced and directed Part I of a documentary on Black Towns of Oklahoma, a project about which he is extremely passionate.  Having been amazed by the ongoing discovery of entrepreneurial and civic sophistication in our early All-Black townships, Andre` became excited to share this awe-inspiring information with others.

Sherry Holthe has been a member of Eastside Genealogical Society in Bellevue WA for many years and was coordinator of the Computer Interest Group from 1996-1999. She started her computer genealogy using Family Tree Maker for DOS v2.0 in 1993 and progressed through several versions of FTM for Windows until she was introduced to Legacy v2.0 in 1997. Sherry became a volunteer beta tester for Legacy in 1999 and was hired as technical support in Sept 2002. By popular demand, she formed the Legacy Interest Group for EGS in Feb. 2008, which continues to meet monthly.

Ann Moloney Lamb is a member and former vice-president of the Eastside Genealogical Society, leads EGS's Irish Interest Group, and the Providence Point Computer Club, and teaches genealogy research skills in several venues. She is a retired Lake Washington School teacher, and has been a volunteer librarian at the Bellevue Family History Center.

Mary Roddy is a Certified Public Accountant.  She has been a genealogist for about 11 years, becoming interested in her roots in anticipation of an extended trip to Ireland.  She has a certificate from the Genealogy and Family History program at the University of Washington.  Her main areas of research are Ireland, California and Ohio. She likens her genealogy research to the logic of a Sudoku puzzle with a big, juicy payoff at the end.

Jean A. Roth is a retired Certified Travel Consultant and has been an active genealogist with the Seattle Genealogical Society since 1977 - researching her German, Irish, and English ancestry.  She is an Honorary Life Member and has served the Society as President and Director of Education. She is the current SGS Vice-President and Group Leader for the Irish and German Special Interest Groups. She also serves on the Board of Seattle's Irish Heritage Club as a genealogical advisor. Jean is a Life Member of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and is the Greater Seattle Chapter's Vice President and Newsletter editor. She serves on the National AHSGR organization as a Village Coordinator and Historian for her paternal ancestral village in Russia's Volga River region.

Ginny Sharp Sommarstrom has had a varied professional career. She’s been a college professor [University of Washington, departments of Geography & Environmental Studies, 1974-1979], a utility rate and power analyst [Seattle City Light, 1979-1985], independent consultant in demographic/economic analysis [Sharp Research, 1985-1995], and child health services researcher [1995-2006]. In each profession, she published research and made presentations at national conferences. Since retiring in late 2006, she has continued to do some health services consulting and has been building a genealogy consulting business, while becoming increasingly active in local genealogy activities. She is currently serving her second term as president of the Seattle Genealogical Society

Eric Stroschein is a professional genealogist and a 22 year veteran of the Seattle Fire Department.  He has been doing genealogical research since his youth when his grandmother got him interested.  Eric has attended the National Institute of Genealogical Research in Washington D.C. and the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research at Samford University.   He is a member of the Skagit County Genealogical Society, Washington State Genealogical Society, NGS and APG.  Eric’s genealogical interests and emphases include federal, state, and international military and land records.  He credited with the discovery of the master blacksmith that built and crewed the Confederate Submarine Hunley.  Eric’s genealogical pursuits include Swedish and Prussian research

Dave Thaler has been a Family History Center staff member for several years and is one of the co-chairmen for these Family History Expos. Dave is the historian for the Thaler family organization, and has published a book "The Thaler Family in Germany and North America, 1655-1995", containing the ancestors and descendants of the family that immigrated to Canada in 1830. Over the years, Dave has taught several classes in German, US Census and Internet research. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science.

Dave has traveled to Germany to visit the Thaler ancestral home, although most of his other lines go back to early New England settlers. He collects books on royal ancestry of New England immigrants, and maintains a web site on a number of lines to make available which have been accepted and which have been disproved.

Karla Walters is a Wisconsin native and has a master’s degree and a doctorate in English literature from the University of Oregon. She has been an English professor at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and at the University of New Mexico and currently teaches high school English in the Issaquah School District. She has been doing genealogical research for twenty years and is a member of the Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe (SGGEE), assisting in their parish records extractions and presenting workshops at their conferences.

Don Doud is a Seattle native. It could almost be said of him: "He lived in a log cabin which he helped his father build." Don was an accountant/financial analyst for over 25 years, and so enjoys solving mysteries and tracking things down. He currently is a financial worker at Washington State Dept. of Social and Health Services. He has also worked as a Spanish interpreter/translator for DSHS, King County Courts, Federal Way Public Schools, and others, and served a two-year mission for his church in Mexico. Don has been an adjunct professor at City University for over 13 years, teaching mostly undergraduate business courses. In 1977, Don and his wife Vicki moved from Seattle to Redmond in order to get out of the big city (that worked well, didn't it?).

As with most of us, Don's family roots are varied. His father's ancestors came from England to America in the 1600's, served in the Revolutionary War, came through Ohio and South Dakota, and eventually ended up here in Washington. His mother's ancestors were also English, but also had a healthy component of French Canadian and even Native American (A French fur trader working for the Hudson's Bay Co. next to then Fort Walla Walla married a local native girl from the tribe which later massacred the Whitmans). With some diligent research, Don was able to tie his father's line back into the already researched Doud genealogy. His wife's family has a large Icelandic component, and one of her genealogist cousins recently gifted her with some research tying the family line back to about the year 800 AD.

Godfrey Ellis is a Family History Consultant in Lacey, Washington. He has been tracing his genealogy and English family roots, off and on, since adolescence. Dr. Ellis recently presented on English genealogy at the Washington State conference on Family History and has lectured on several cruise ships - he and his wife Merry have sailed in the Caribbean, up to Alaska, and to Hawaii giving presentations on this addiction we call family history.

Not everyone is descended from royalty and famous figures, someone has to be descended from the commoners. Dr. Ellis has been working on a series of fact-based fictional accounts of several of his family lines embedding his ancestors in their personal and their social history. With dialogue and description, He hopes his books hook the next generations onto family history.

Merry Ellis is a Family History Consultant in Lacey, Washington and has been fascinated with her family history for many years. She has spent many days conducting research on pilgrim lines in the family history library in Salt Lake City. Merry has visited England several times for purposes of learning more about her and her husband's family histories. Along with her husband Godfrey Ellis, she has also lectured on genealogy on cruise ships to Alaska and other exotic locales.

Related to the same Mayflower pilgrim fathers as Joseph Smith and Winston Churchill, Merry has family lines extended to England, France, Germany, and French-Canada.

Kaylene Thaler is a staff member at the Redmond Family History Center. She has been involved in family history for many years and always has good ideas on how to find missing ancestors. Kaylene also has years of group teaching experience and is very thorough in covering a topic. Two years ago while becoming an expert in US land records for the Expo, Kaylene studied and attended FGS/UGA conferences to keep current with new resources and techniques for land record research.

Kaylene's own family history required her to prove that there were two cousins with the same name living in different parts of the country, not just one person as was widely published in books and on the Internet. For the past two years, Kaylene has taught the first detailed how-to class for land record research and she is back by popular demand.