Details on Instructional Lectures

It is easier than ever to get the records of a Civil War ancestor. This lecture focuses, primarily, on Union records. Basic steps on how to recognize that a person fought in the War Between the States as well as the processes that can be used to determine his regiment and company will be explored. Also provided: steps to navigate the NARA web site for the purpose of ordering veteran records (no Internet connection needed). What researchers can expect to find on the records will be discussed, along with tips on less obvious things to search for in the documents received. These are illustrated by actual copies of Civil War military and pension records. This is a basic lecture, good for beginning researchers as well as those who have more experience in the field of family history.

This program is available for viewing at FamilySearch.org.

Using various clues, this presentation shows how to move from one piece of information to the next to piece together the life of an ancestral family. The steps used are illustrated so that they can be followed by the beginner as well as the seasoned genealogist. Use of census, probate, property, and personal records are explained.

This program has been presented at many societies and seminars and recordings are available from JAMB, Inc. of those done at the 2009 St. George, Utah Family History Expo (#11) and the 2009 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree (#SA-23).

Learn valuable information for communicating with those in other countries. This presentation covers nonverbal as well as verbal communication with those of other cultures, identifying differences in use of time, space, body movement, and more. The stumbling blocks of intercultural communication, along with the rules that govern communication within cultures, will be covered. This presentation will also help people understand what their immigrant ancestors experienced when they came to America.

A large amount of helpful information can be found on websites maintained by volunteers; one type of these is the county site – supplying information of interest to genealogical researchers. Those who attend this class will learn about how to locate such sites, the different types of information available, how to navigate the sites, etc. Especially good for beginning researchers.

This program has been presented at many societies and seminars and recordings are available from JAMB, Inc. of one done at the 2008 Mesa, AZ Family History Expo (#S-65).

Latin has been the traditional language used for the records of the Catholic Church. Focusing on records written before the early 1900s, this lecture looks at how to decipher the basic terms and identify the types of records found. Using examples from German Catholic Churches in Germany and the United States, I will help the researcher discover how to find needed information on baptisms, marriages, and deaths. Because the examples come from German research, it is advisable to determine if the prospective audience has origins in that country. Although Latin records are also used in other locales and there is bound to be a relationship between the Latin examples given here and the records found in other areas (Italy, Mexico, etc.), the uniqueness of Gothic German handwriting makes this presentation most helpful for those who are working on records from that country.

This program is available from Conference Resource, LLC, Program #SA029 (presented at SCGS Jamboree, June 2011).

This presentation looks at the types of proof used to assess the validity of findings in the field of family history research. The differences between original (primary) research and hearsay (secondary) accounts will be clarified, as will the benefits of using the Genealogical Proof Standard. A discussion of the fallacies of reasoning and how they are often used in the field of genealogy, often perpetuating errors, is included. As time allows, this will also cover using family stories and legends in doing genealogical research and how to weigh them against documented evidence to assess what data is most accurate.

This program has been presented at many societies and seminars and a recording is available from JAMB, Inc. of one done at the 2009 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree (SU-04) and in 2011 at NGS Conference, Charleston, SC (program #S-452).

Sometimes the most valuable information is acquired by researching correlating families to one’s direct line ancestry. This presentation is designed to acquaint folks with the value of using “the back door” in their genealogical research. Using the family information of cousins, aunts, uncles, etc., one can piece together the lives of the entire family unit. Even using information about neighbors and historical events can unearth helpful data in one’s roots pursuits. Good presentation for beginning and intermediate researchers.

This program is available from JAMB, Inc., Program #T-222 (presented at NGS Conference, Charleston, SC, May 2011).

There are many details hidden in genealogy records; a simple mark or added word can easily be overlooked, leading to confusion later on. Whether the passed over information is an address, occupation, unknown abbreviation, or other bit of data that is not caught at first, the researcher can find him/herself being misdirected and even researching the wrong family. Catch the “little things” before you find yourself lost in a forbidden forest of other people’s family trees. Intermediate level, but still helpful for beginners.

Getting started can be overwhelming to the beginning researcher. This lecture includes:

tips on what to do to get one's family history compiled
information on various popular genealogy programs to organize one's findings
names and URLs of general sources to help find ancestors
financial information regarding what to expect when researching records
other ideas, based on the knowledge level of the audience

This is a good lecture for a non-genealogy-focused group. It has been designed to assist non-genealogists in getting started in the research and compilation of ancestral data. However, because most of the information is basic and fundamental, it probably will not provide any new material for experienced researchers.

The local family history centers provide resources for genealogists, but, coupled with the website FamilySearch.org, they can unlock a world of information about ancestors and their lives. This program shows how to use these two entities to the fullest advantage; doing preliminary research from one’s home computer and then enlisting the aid of the staff and microfilm readers at the local FHC to continue the research process. This is an excellent presentation for beginner researchers or those who are not fully informed about their local FHC.

FamilySearch’s Historical Record Collections: Navigating the Results of the Indexing Project

FamilySearch Indexing continues, but already, its results are being shared with us all on the new Historical Records Collection (formerly the Record Search Pilot). Located at FamilySearch.org, this is one of the most exciting and accessible tools for genealogists. Learn how to access this new – FREE – site and navigate its user-friendly pages to locate documents and other pertinent data that will break through brick walls and cause them to crumble. Also covered: how to properly cite the sources you will find on the website and access the records that are not physically displayed. Good for beginners through intermediate researchers. (No Internet access required.)

This presentation is designed primarily for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but this program (formerly called New FamilySearch) is available for non-LDS; however the options are different. There are both LDS and non-LDS versions of the presentation; please be specific when requesting the lecture.

This instructional program is designed for beginning to intermediate researchers. It covers the basics of what is found on the different census records, how to use the pre-1850 federal census, how to apply the census information as a stepping stone for additional research, and other basics of using this resource. It also touches briefly on other types of census records (i.e., military, state, and other) and covers how to use Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest to search and browse census records. Various hints and helps will be presented to assist those new to using this type of research aid in being resourceful in finding their ancestors.

This program has been presented at many societies and seminars and a recording is available from JAMB, Inc. of one done at the 2009 St. George, UT Family History Expo (Parts 1 and 2: #41 & #45).

THIS PROGRAM RUNS LONG - ALLOW AT LEAST 90 MINUTES; GOOD AS A 2-PARTER FOR SEMINARS OR SOCIETIES THAT HAVE MORNING & AFTERNOON LECTURES.

While a one-hour version of this program is available, it is less comprehensive than the longer presentation.

When we want to get a complete picture of our ancestors, it includes understanding what they did in their leisure time. We may find reference to unusual terms of the games people played when we read their letters and diaries or even old novels. Game boards and equipment might be listed in probate inventories. Learn what some of the games were and how they were played.

Enhance on-site research: try "RVing." This presentation will cover the different types of Recreational Vehivcles (RVs), including the advantages and disadvantages of them all. The cautions and considerations about RV travel will be discussed. The various aspects of RV travel need to be considered before the on-site researcher leaves home and this presentation will address a number of these, including the freedom an RV provides the family history researcher. Options for overnight stays will also be covered.

This program has been presented at many seminars and a recording is available from JAMB, Inc. of one done at the 2008 Mesa, AZ Family History Expo (#S-59).

We tend to focus on genealogical societies and on-line resources when desiring to network and find family connections, but what about the historical societies? These can have a wealth of information that is hidden from view because of a lack of means to make their collections public. Maps, artifacts, letters, military documents, newspaper archives, court records, house histories, property information, and so much more are tucked away for safe keeping in drawers, boxes, cabinets, and every conceivable storage location (not all archivally safe). Some have websites, but not all of them. Some have mailing lists and query columns. Many have newsletters and some have lists of their holdings. And all of them need support to be maintained. How to find them, contact them, and become part of them are all discussed here.

This presentation is designed for those who are interested in becoming lecturers in the field of family history. Public speaking tips as well as pros and cons of various presentation styles (e.g., PowerPoint v. overheads) will be discussed. Some general discussion about fees, as well as pointers on contracts, booking procedures, etc. will be included. This is not designed as a general presentation at a genealogical society, but would be an asset in a seminar or included as a special "add-on" session with separate, advance sign-up. It is recommended that the potential seminar participants be surveyed in advance to determine if there is an interest in this unique program. For an optimum experience, enrollment needs to be limited to 20 or less in order to address individual concerns as specifically as possible and a 30-day (or more) lead-time (time between booking and presentation) is necessary.

The audio presentation of this at the FGS Conference in Springfield, IL in September 2011 can be purchased from Fleetwood Online (search by "Hibben" or product #17148).

Many of the songs that we sing today were also sung by our multi-great-grandparents. Music had an important role in the lives of our ancestors, who used it to provide their own entertainment. They also used songs to teach values, create religious unity, learn history, and gain an understanding of their roles in family and community. This program covers these issues, letting the attendees know why the study of their ancestors’ music involvement is as viable an element of family history research as studying forebears’ occupations, fraternal associations, and religious involvement. Also discussed: the instruments our ancestors played and how to identify them.

Following the Revolutionary War, residents of New York State began to travel to less-populated areas. A favorite of many who lived in the territory around the Erie Canal and surrounding Mohawk Valley communities was Jefferson County, on the shore of Lake Ontario. Many immigrants who came through New York found themselves settling in one, or both, of these areas and the cemeteries of both locales are filled with graves of the state's founding families: Klock, Nellis, Walrath, Dillenbach, Bellinger, Failing, Lassell, and more. This lecture will explore the common trek of those traveling between the two geographic areas and discuss some of the landmarks, cemeteries, and, in the Mohawk Valley area, churches that make this a rich venue for those interested in doing on-site research. Record repositories will be discussed, as well as ways to obtain records when one is unable to travel to the locations. This presentation is most applicable for groups outside the State of New York.

The necessity of keeping one’s presentation within the time limit affects the speaker, speakers that may be presenting in the same location in the next time slot, and time and cost issues for the booking organization. Designed for genealogy speakers, or those who aspire to give genealogical presentations, this program addresses the issue of keeping a presentation within the time constraints required. Hints on filling the time allotted as well as keeping the presentation from running over-time are provided.

This program has been presented at least two conferences and a recording is available from JAMB, Inc. of one done at the 2010 National Genealogical Society Conference in Salt Lake City (SA-55).

The 1940 Census was released on April 2, 2012 and, by early summer, was already nearly half indexed! States that are not searchable through an on-line index can still be examined using one of the different browsing methods. This presentation goes through the steps to do the research to browse the pages of the 16th Dicennial Census and find ancestors. Also included are some of the stories that came out of the 1940 experience and the requirements for enumerators. Yes, there is much to learn in this lecture, but we have some laughs, too.

Learn some helpful hints about doing cemetery research, along with some practical suggestions for hiking in the less-traveled graveyards. Included are pointers about not taking everything written in stone to be as permanent as the marble monument. Good for beginners.

Census records tell us a lot about where people lived and what they did, but City Directories fill in the holes between Census years and often hold other secrets about family members. See how versatile these resources can be and how attainable they have become. Did your ancestor hold a position in a civic organization? Was his/her business a major enterprise in the city? Where was the business? Learn how to correlate the directories with other documents to reveal some of the lesser known bits of information about your family.

A presentation designed to help those with problems reading records, books, and websites due to vision problems; learning disabilities (specifically, dyslexia and related problems); cognitive problems, etc. learn ways to be successful in doing genealogical research. Hints for effective research as well as writing up findings will be provided. Especially helpful for those with limited computer skills, people suffering from writing problems due to arthritis or other issues, etc. This program comes out of 13 years as a college professor, myself a dyslexic who went undiagnosed until my mid-30s. A good program for a seminar with multiple presenters as the audience appeal is likely to be very specialized.

Available for free viewing as "Yes You Can! Do Family History Research with a Learning Disability" at FamilySearch.

Your military ancestor is entitled to full military honors, even if his funeral took place decades earlier. This includes a headstone or marker, provided by the Veterans Administration. Find out the history behind the program and the procedures used to accomplish having one placed.

Many of us trace our roots to the first immigrants to this country . . . then stop. This lecture will focus on the process of finding those ancestors who came from Germany and continuing the research with German records. Using the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Library Catalog and IGI (International Genealogical Index) on the website, http://www.FamilySearch.org, as a primary resource,* I will include any or all of the following (as time and interest permit):

Just because a story has been passed on for generations does not mean it is true; it may have elements of truth in it, or may be a figment of someone’s imagination. Applying theories of proving arguments to examples presented, this lecture discusses ways to prove or disprove family folklore. Audience involvement is encouraged in using provable evidence to substantiate (or refute) claims of accuracy of intergenerational legends. This presentation is applicable to all levels of genealogical research.

This program has been presented at many societies and seminars and a recording is available from JAMB, Inc. of one done at the 2010 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree (SA-026).

The computer age can be intimidating to those who have been keeping their genealogical records on paper. This presentation gives some tips to those who have not yet been convinced that modern technology has a viable place in the field of family history. The topics cover the advantages and disadvantages of computer over paper but do not detail all the “hows” of operating a computer. This presentation has been revised in 2014 to reflect free genealogy-helpful apps available for smart phones.

This program has been presented at many societies and seminars and a recording is available from JAMB, Inc. of one done at the 2008 Mesa, AZ Family History Expo (#F-18).

While most of us know the basics of interviewing, this presentation looks at it from a couple of different angles. Some of the material comes from the field of speech communication and some comes from the field of folklore; more specifically, oral history gathering techniques. Also included is a discussion of the “other side” of interviewing: how to respond when you are the one being interviewed. Some suggestions for before, during, and after the interview, for those on both sides, are covered. This is a good presentation for beginners and also appropriate for intermediate researchers.

This program is available for viewing at FamilySearch.org.

Intergenerational stories are links to the past, but many people (especially the younger generations) become “turned off” by the lists of names, dates, and places. How can we make genealogy “come alive” for our descendants? This program explores turning statistics into stories and facts into fascination. Designed for all levels of experience.

This will soon be available for viewing on FamilySearch - enter the presentation title into the search box to locate the program (sometime after mid-October 2011).

A Discussion of suggestions for doing research where our ancestors lived and died. This includes some hints for cemetery visits, contacting libraries and societies in advance, using electronic equipment in the excursion, planning interviews of living relatives, etc. The audience will be encouraged to include their personal experiences.

Available to view for free at FamilySearch.

In doing family research, it is not uncommon to find your ancestor sharing a household with apparent non-family members or buried in the same plot with a family with a different surname. Sometimes “odd” names will appear as witnesses or testifiers on your ancestors’ legal documents or vice versa. The “unknowns” bear examination: they may be extended family or give clues to other members of your tree. This program explores these strangers, where you might encounter them, and how to research their identity. Designed for those with genealogy experience. A short description of working with the new Record Search Pilot at FamilySearch.org is included.

This program is available from Conference Resource, LLC, Program #SU010 (presented at SCGS Jamboree, June 2011).