Archives for February 2025

Several free genealogy webinars will take place this week covering: transportation and African American research.

Wisconsin State Genealogical Society will present “Pinning Down Your Ancestors’ Location” on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m.  Where did your ancestors come from? Where did they disappear to? Although finding locations can be the key to following our ancestors back in time, we often slam up against brick walls. Learn practical strategies for tracking down our ancestors’ whereabouts by overcoming spelling and handwriting problems and using collateral research, gazetteers, image searches, maps, and loads of unexpected and underused resources.

To register, go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3737785823555379291

New York Public Library will present “Introduction to African American Genealogy Research” on Wednesday, Feb. 19  at 5 p.m. Centuries of local and federal laws related to the livelihood of black Americans have created a complex paper trail of genealogical resources. This class aims to provide introductory historical context and recommend basic research methods in the pursuit of African American family history.

To register, go to: https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2025/04/16/introduction-african-american-genealogy-research-0

Florida State Genealogical Society will present “Correlating Indirect and Direct Evidence to Extend the Pedigree” on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. Johanna (Daly) Mahoney plunged to her death taking her parents’ and siblings’ identities along. Crucial evidence from the analysis of three generations of associates and a summons published sixteen years post-mortem led to her family.

To register, go to: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wCT7B4_BTgiZfrEQawZvIA#/registration

Mid-Continent Public Library will present “Ancestors on the Move” on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Discover the modes of transportation our ancestors used! Learn about the westward expansion across the US while discussing different types of transportation.

To register, go to: https://www.mymcpl.org/events/103407/ancestors-move-hybrid

Several free genealogy programs will take place this week covering probate records and African American research.

The St. Louis County Library will present “Using FamilySearch” on Monday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. FamilySearch.org is a free website offering access to millions of records for genealogy and family history research. Learn how to search for ancestors, navigate the catalog, and take advantage of other features.

Registration required.  To register, go to: https://slcl.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=152515

The Mid-Continent Public Library will present “What you Don’t Know About Vital Records” on Monday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Vital records are one of the first record sets we look for in the hunt for our ancestors. But do you know everything about these records? What do you do when no records exist? We will examine the history of vital records in the United States, variations of those records, and alternatives.

To register, go to: https://www.mymcpl.org/events/103408/anatomy-bmd-what-you-dont-know-about-vital-records-zoom

Pikes Peak Library District will present “Researching African American Ancestors” on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. Researching your African American ancestors can be a challenging, yet rewarding, process. In addition to research strategies, this class will cover how to use both traditional and unique resources to explore your family tree.

To register, go to: https://ppld.librarymarket.com/event/intermediate-genealogy-class-virtual-class-465868

Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana will present “Getting Around the Missing 1890 Census” Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. The loss of the 1890 Federal census is a source of great frustration for American genealogists, but all hope is not lost! Learn strategies and gather tips for success in locating your family in other records between the 1880 and 1900 Federal censuses.

To register, go to: https://www.acgsi.org/meetings.php

The Mid-Continent Public Library will present “U.S. Probate Records for Genealogy” on Friday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Probate records can help genealogists scale that brick wall between generations and add information about their family. If your ancestor had assets, they probably had probate papers. This class follows the estate from the documents to the final settlement. It also covers items such as dower rights.

To register, go to: https://www.mymcpl.org/events/101667/us-probate-records-genealogy-hybrid