*=new presenter or topic

A-01 - DNA/101: Beginning DNA Research -- Dan Earl (Beginner)

So you got a DNA kit for the holidays. Now what? Not sure which company to test with? What's Y-DNA? What's mtDNA? This program will teach you what DNA is, how it's used in genealogical research, and what to expect in terms of results. The different testing companies and their strengths will be discussed. Different third party tools, sites that can be used to help compare and interpret DNA results will also be discussed. 

*A-02 - Virginia – One of the First States To Have an Out West – Jeff Mason (Beginner - Intermediate)

You can count yourself as fortunate if you have ancestors that lived in Virginia.  It is arguably the first place where Europeans came to settle more than 400 years ago, well before the formation of the United States.  Because of its rich history, many Virginia counties have significant local genealogy resources.  It is not unusual to find records going back to the early 1700s, and even earlier in counties closer to the Atlantic or Chesapeake shorelines.

A-03 - Dead End Problems – Bill Ruddock (Intermediate)

After a short presentation on some of the reasons we have dead end problems, we will ask members of the class to describe their brick walls. We will then suggest some research possibilities to get around the dead end. So come, bring your toughest problem to the meeting!

A-04 – Genealogy of a House -- Jill Arnold (Intermediate)

Are you interested in learning more about the history of your home or other historic building? This program will review a number of primary and secondary sources that can help you identify who originally owned the land, the age of the house, and more about the people who have lived there. The examples will be focused on the Lansing area, but the research strategies and principles can be applied to any geographic area.

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A-05 - Building a Scottish Pedigree -- Harrison McKnight (Intermediate)
Teaches how to use the basic Scottish records and which tool works best for accessing each of the key records for Scottish research --- birth-marriage-death certificates, census, parish, poor relief, property, and cemetery records.  Provides examples of how to build a Scottish pedigree using three primary tools: scotlandspeople.gov.uk., ancestry.com, and familysearch.org. Shows how easy Scottish research is!

*A-06 - The Circle of Life: Research with Vital Records – Kris    Rzepczynski (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)

This program will explore records of birth, marriage, divorce, and death, their genealogical content, research strategies to identify exact event dates, and give specific examples of online indexes and records from across the United States.

*A-07 - Compiled Military Service Records and Beyond! – Cindy Norton

*A-08 -.“The Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana” – Melinda McIntosh

.The Genealogy Center at The Allen County Public Library in Fort  Wayne , Indiana contains nearly one million books,  microfilm, and microfiche. Publications include family and county histories from every state in the US, Federal and local census and military records, Native American and African American records, and histories and registers from Canada, Germany, and the British Isles.  Information in these collections will help you go beyond the names and dates in your family tree with stories and descriptions of your ancestors and the places they lived. In this class we will survey the collections and share tips on how to get the most from a visit to this wonderful resource, just a two hour drive south of East Lansing

*B-01-AncestARRRS! The Life and Records of the Atlantic Pirates -- Dan Earl

Ahoy mateys! Were yer ancestors land lubbers or did they be pirates? Even if your ancestors weren’t pirates, their lives would have been affected by Atlantic piracy. This presentation covers the history of piracy in North America and how it affected trade from Halifax to Spanish Main. This presentation also looks at the types of records that exist because of piracy.

B-02 - Using Social Media for Genealogy – Cindy Grostick

Has your research hit a brick wall?  Want to learn more about your place of origin?  Reaching out to distant cousins and locals in an area can be a rewarding way of breaking down those brick walls.  Learn how a few of the various social media resources can help you to advance your genealogy research.

B-03 - Where Do I Start? Help! – Jim Linton (Beginner)

In this session, learn the who, what, why, when, where, and how of family history.

• Who? Wondering where to start?  Start with yourself!  Then focus on getting the information you can from living relatives – while they are still alive.
• What? Collect records, stories, and photos which document the lives of you and your ancestors – documenting birth, marriage, death, and other major life events.
• Why? Need a reason to start?  There will be at least one reason to start your family history now!
• When? There isn’t a better time than now to get started!
• Where and How? Family history work used to involve extensive travel from cemeteries to courthouses, from libraries to family history centers.  While some information may still require travel, in today’s world, for much information you can now “let your fingers do the walking

There is no need to wait any longer.  Join the adventure in family history now!

*B-04 - British Isles to Canada to Michigan – Jessica Trotter

This session looks at this popular migration pattern for British Imperial subjects and explores resources available to researchers studying families who traveled these routes. 

*B-07 - Census Records and Non-Population Schedules -- Tom Koselka

We have all used the US Population Census in our research. Do you want to add additional information to your family story? They may have enumerated in one of several supplemental census schedules. This presentation examines why they were created and what information may be gleaned from these special schedules.

*B-08 - Township Records – Shirley Hodges (coming soon)

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*B-09 - Company K of the Michigan First Sharpshooters – Jim Jackson

This company was completely composed of men 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. 

(11:30am – 12:45pm)

C-01 - Work on Your Research in our FHC

Welcome to the Lansing MI Family History Center. Use your time looking at film that is available on indefinite loan Michigan Vital Records, Loiselle Marriage Index, Federal Naturalization Records-Wayne Co. MI, Ireland Vital Records, or spend time browsing film ordered by our patrons (maybe you will find some that you are interested in). Fiche are available on many countries & topics. There is also much good information in our book collection. Enjoy your visit. Need assistance? Ask a Librarian.

C-02 - Family History Center Tours -- FHC Staff

Go to the FHC and request a TOUR of the Family History Center. One of the Librarians on Duty will be happy to show you what we have & help is available in our FHC. The FHC is at the back (North) Entrance of the building. 

*D-01 - Adding Newspapers to Your Genealogical Toolbox  -- Ginger Ogilvie

There’s nothing like a newspaper article to help you place your ancestor in their historic context. From obituaries, birth, and marriage announcements, to reports on criminal trials, accidents, ship arrivals, administrator notices, and advertisements, newspapers can be a treasure trove of details! This class will explore various ways to access historic newspapers, from free digital repositories to paid subscription sites, to help you fill in gaps and find a deeper understanding of your ancestors’ experiences and surroundings.

Although land records don’t typically carry the degree of immediate gratification that you might get from finding other original source documents such as birth or death certificates, marriage licenses, will, estate, or probate records, they are especially helpful in locating ancestors in the pre-every name census years prior to 1850.  Land records can form or assist you in forming the basis that can help you to make conclusions about your ancestors in situations where a relationship may not be clear cut.  Sources of tax records will also be examined.

D-03 - New York Research – Bill Ruddock (Intermediate)

Will discuss what resources are available for conducting research in New York. Since New York has almost no vital records until very late, Bill will show where to find church, census, tax, court, manorial, military, lease records, merchant, estate papers, and other records.

*D-04 - Researching in German Civil and Parish Records -- Alex Tolksdorf

This session is designed to help those new to researching German record sets. The complexity of Germany's history, and its affect on genealogical sources can be difficult obstacles for a family historian to overcome. The class will focus specifically on German civil records and parish records, with emphasis on how/where to locate the records and how to interpret the records. This ranges from using FamilySearch's catalog to using German repositories like Archion.de to contacting local archives. Additional attention will be provided to historical geopolitics of what is today Germany, handwriting styles, as well as useful German reference materials. Lastly, the class also covers territorial regions formerly included in the German Empire (i.e. Alsace-Lorraine and eastern Prussian provinces)

*D-06 - Pennsylvania Dutch & New York Palatines – Laressa Northrup

*D-07 - CIVIL WAR ERA STAMPED PHOTOGRAPHS – Jim Moses

During the U.S. Civil War a special tax was created by President Lincoln to help fund the war effort.  Beginning in 1862 certain goods and services were taxed.  Revenue stamps were designed, depicting a bust of George Washington, and appearing in multiple denominations and colors.  There were designations for ‘Express’, ‘Playing Cards’, ‘Proprietary’, ‘Telegraph’, ‘Bank Check’, ‘Certificate’, ‘Foreign Exchange’, ‘Inland Exchange’, and ‘Agreement’, along one named ‘U.S.I.R.’ (United States Internal Revenue) in values from one cent to five cents.  Other stamps, also depicting Washington, with these and other designations also were issued, with values of ten cents through hundreds of dollars.  These stamps were to be affixed to the items they represented, to prove payment of  the tax (passed on to the consumer, of course), and they were to be cancelled.

On 01 Aug 1864 (the act was passed on 30 Jun 1864) various goods were added to the list of taxed items.  These included certain medicines, perfume, cosmetics, matches, cigar lights, and photographs.  Since these items did not have specific stamps, it was allowed that any of the previously-printed stamps could be used for them.  With photographic items the stamps were affixed to paper photographs, tintypes, daguerreotypes, and ambrotypes.  The tax depended on the sale price of the photograph:

 2 cents for prices of 25 cents or less
3 cents for prices of 26 cents through 50 cents
5 cents for prices of 51 cents through 1 dollar
5 cents more for each additional dollar or fraction of a dollar

This unpopular tax raised a large amount of revenue for the war effort in Union states, and continued from 01 Aug 1864 through 01 Aug 1866.    

Since the time period for tax stamps on photographs is a mere two years, this gives us an excellent snap-shot of the people of the time.  We can see a very narrow view of our ancestors with these photographs.  Many images were made during this time as loved ones sent copies to their soldiers, and soldiers sent copies of themselves back home.  Many of the photos are of individuals, but there are also family groups, images of people in their occupations (or at least wearing the clothes/uniforms of their occupations), as well as some scenery, architectural, and other subjects.  Clothing styles, hairstyles, and photographic techniques (including the type of photo, backdrops used, etc.) can help us date our photographs, thus assisting in identifying ancestors, and with revenue stamps on the backs of the photos we can often narrow our time period to two years.  Of value to us for genealogical purposes are those photos depicting people, and since they are so old it is the fortunate genealogist who has them in a family collection.

In this presentation we will look at the various types of photos with tax stamps, as well as the stamps themselves.  We will also discover other features needed in the identification process, such as clothing and hairstyles, and we will find some of the pitfalls of relying solely on a stamp being on the back of a photo.  Looks can sometimes be deceiving (intentionally or not).

*D-08 - Introduction: Premium Websites offered at Family History Centers to further your own research. -- Dave Quarnberg

This is an introductory look at what is available in Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saint Family History Centers to enhance family history research. We will look at Fold3 for Military Records and Pentions from the Revolutionary War to World War II and beyond, Family Search, a collaborative family history effort sometimes frustrating but mostly exciting, and MyHeritage and some of the new features we find there.  There will also be room for questions. 

*D-09 - Getting around the brick wall – Jim Jackson

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? 

*E-01 - A New Look at Brick Walls:The Genealogy N.I.N.J.A. -- Dan Earl

All genealogists have hit a brick wall at one point or another. For the new researcher this can be a painful and frustrating experience. Using sound genealogical research methodology is the first step in overcoming brick walls. The lecture will introduce learners to the NINJA approach to doing genealogical research. NINJA is an acronym that stands for Needs, Investigation, Notation, Justification, and Assessment. This approach represents a fresh look at the Genealogical Proof Standard that is designed specifically to assist beginner and intermediate researchers with overcoming brick wall problems in their research faster than guess work or haphazard research. This course will utilize real-world examples to demonstrate how the presenter used the NINJA method to overcome brick walls in his own research.

*E-02 - Ancestors At War and How to Find Them – Jeff Mason

If your ancestor fought in an American War, the chances of finding documents relating to their service are high. This presentation will focus primarily on records related to the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, and will include several online resources to help you find your ancestral war records.

E-03 - Where Do I Start? Help! – Jim Linton (Beginner)

In this session, learn the who, what, why, when, where, and how of family history.

• Who? Wondering where to start?  Start with yourself!  Then focus on getting the information you can from living relatives – while they are still alive.
• What? Collect records, stories, and photos which document the lives of you and your ancestors – documenting birth, marriage, death, and other major life events.
• Why? Need a reason to start?  There will be at least one reason to start your family history now!
• When? There isn’t a better time than now to get started!
• Where and How? Family history work used to involve extensive travel from cemeteries to courthouses, from libraries to family history centers.  While some information may still require travel, in today’s world, for much information you can now “let your fingers do the walking

There is no need to wait any longer.  Join the adventure in family history now!

E-04 - Introduction to the Archives of Michigan -- Jill Arnold (Beginner)

An introduction to the Archives of Michigan, this program will explore the genealogical collections available there, including original source records, published resources, and online tools at Seeking Michigan. One of the larger family history collections in the United States, the Archives' holdings emphasize Michigan, the Great Lakes states, New England, the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as Ontario and Quebec.

*E-05 - Creating Your Personal History:  A Legacy to Remember! -- Harrison McKnight (Intermediate)
Learn how journals and other documents help build an outstanding personal history. Learn the impact of creating your own personal history and the histories of your predecessors. Winston Churchill said there exist  those “sharp agate points” or life changing events on which a person’s life and destiny turns. An effective personal history helps people understand what life events were crucial to what one became.  Strategies for creating such a personal history are discussed. The roles of journals and interviews in developing a personal history are highlighted.

*E-06 -Finding Non-Traditional Records – Jessica Trotter

We all know that vital records, census records, etc. are the go-tos for genealogical information. But what else is out there that might give you those needed bits of information, and how do you find those records?

E-07 - Finding Records of your Detroit and Wayne County Ancestor -- Tom Koselka (Beginner, Intermediate)

Many of us who live in Michigan have ancestors who came through Detroit and Wayne County. What records did they leave behind – and how can I access them? This session examines the records created by, for, and about our ancestors in Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan. We will explore who created them and when, what information is in them, why they were created, and where they can be located today.

*E-08 - Tracing your American family back to their roots in the British Isles – Ann Clynick

If the US census simply tells you that your family comes from England, this seminar will teach you how to identify just where your family originated in the British Isles and how to discover their family of origin. This class will introduce you to basic genealogical records available on websites that are free at the Family History Library. It may just help you  break through that brick wall on the shores of the Atlantic and connect to your family in the British Isles. 

E-09 - Scandinavian  Research (Swedish Emphasis) -- Linnea Shaw (Beginner, Intermediate)
This session will touch on how to bridge the gap between the United States and Sweden.  Then we will concentrate on how to find and make use of the plentiful records that are preserved in Swedish Archives.

*F-01 - DNA/201: I Got My Results, Now What? – Dan Earl

So you just got your DNA test results back. Now what? Maybe you're not as Irish as you thought, and where is that Native American DNA you grandma always talked about? This lecture will discuss what to do now that you have your results such as how to interpret ethnicity estimates, how to look at cousin matching, and DNA circles, as well as how to use a chromosome browser. Downloading and upload raw DNA data is also discussed. If you have your results and are wondering what to do next, this is the class for you!

*F-02 - The Importance of Researching Your Collateral Lines? – Cindy Grostick

So many of us focus our attention on our direct lines and fail to look at the collateral lines. This is a great mistake.  Learn what collateral lines are and why it is important not to forget or ignore them. 

F-03 - Dead End Problems – Bill Ruddock (Intermediate)

After a short presentation on some of the reasons we have dead end problems, we will ask members of the class to describe their brick walls. We will then suggest some research possibilities to get around the dead end. So come, bring your toughest problem to the meeting!

*F-04 – Introduction to Ukrainian Genealogy – Alex Tolksdorf

*F-06- New York Religious Records – Laressa Northrup

*F-07 - "Ah the Good Old Days! But were they?" -- Cassie Quarnberg

It was a simpler life in many ways, but would we trade today’s conveniences, technology and busy lives for “The Good Old Days”? This will be a fun session as we consider the day-to-day lives and experiences of our ancestors and what it may have been like living with the knowledge of their times.

*F-08 - Whither Thou Goest:  Tracing Your Female Ancestors – Shirley Hodges (coming soon)