Genealogy Lectures
I am available to present genealogical lectures across the country, either live or remotely.
Each lecture will be accompanied by a Powerpoint presentation and paper handouts. I can provide my own LCD projector if necessary.
Rates will vary, depending on a number of factors, including travel, number of presentation, etc.
Presentations can also be developed for your society on topics not listed below. Please contact me using the form at the bottom of this page to discuss.
I am also available to present lectures to societies remotely, using webinar software. In order to use this service, the host society must have access to a computer with high-speed Internet, as well as a projector and speakers, so that the attendees are able to see and hear the presentation.
Click here to view my list of upcoming genealogy webinars.
Available Lectures
"What is a 'Reasonably Exhaustive Search'?"
The first step of the Genealogical Proof Standard is to "complete a reasonably exhaustive search for all relevant records" related to your research objective. This presentation discusses what a "reasonably exhaustive search" constitutes, why this is necessary, and how to conduct a search. A case study explores how failing to identify all relevant records can lead to missing information and forming inaccurate conclusions about your ancestors' lives.
"Using the Genealogical Proof Standard to Research a Slave Community"
The Genealogical Proof Standard provides a measuring stick to evaluate the validity of your conclusions. By allowing the Proof Standard to guide your research, you can be sure that your research is as accurate as possible. This case study will show how the Genealogical Proof Standard was used to research the slaves owned by a single family of planters, from Saint-Domingue (Haiti) to Maryland, South Carolina, and Louisiana.
"African-American Genealogy: Tearing Down the Brickwalls"
Brickwalls in African-American genealogy can be caused by lack of records or improper research habits. Learning to research effectively can help to avoid these brickwalls. This presentation can also be given with the following case study, running an additional 20 minutes:
"Case Study: Alexina (Newman) Scott"
This short case study demonstrates proper techniques for researching an African-American family in Maryland, from evaluating known information to identifying parents to locating the final slaveowner.
"Online State Resources for Genealogy: Beyond AncestryTM and FamilySearchTM"
The emergence of the Internet has led to many online resources for genealogical research. Many researchers are unaware of the sheer volume and variety of records that have been brought online, at no cost, by government agencies and others active in individual towns, counties, and states. This presentation focuses on what kinds of records are available, some of the places to look, and how to find online resources in your area of research. Several websites are used as examples to demonstrate how to find resources in different places. The websites demonstrated can be customized for the audience. This lecture requires Internet access to be most effective.
"Your Civil War Ancestors: Beginning Your Research"
Learn how to identify your Civil War ancestors, and what information can be found in the Civil War records. Both Union and Confederate ancestors are covered.
"Using Civil War Records to Research African American Ancestors"
Discover the role African American soldiers played in the U. S. Civil War, and what can be learned from records about their military service.
"Researching Online at the Maryland State Archives Website"
For those research in Maryland, the Maryland State Archives will be an essential repository to visit. Yet many researchers are unaware of the wealth of resources that the MSA has already digitized and brought online at their website. This presentation will guide you through the official website of the Maryland State Archives, focusing on the many indexes, transcriptions, and digitized records available there.
"Online Records for African-American Research"
There are many different sources for online digital record images, from state archives to historical societies. This presentation will sample several of these resources, showing the great depth of records available online.
"Identifying Slave Owners in Maryland"
This lecture will present tips and techniques for researching your African-American ancestors in Maryland. You will also learn about several record groups created by the Maryland government that deal specifically with both free and enslaved African-Americans, and how to identify the owners of enslaved African-Americans.
Do you need a speaker for your genealogy event? Use the form below to contact me.
Upcoming Engagements
"African American Genealogy: Tearing Down the Brickwalls," Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 7 March 2012
All-day workshop, four lectures, program to be determined, Tulsa Public Library, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 17 March 2012
Discussing Maryland research, on "Research at the National Archives & Beyond" radio show with Bernice Bennett, BlogTalkRadio.com, 22 March 2012
"African American Genealogy: Tearing Down the Brickwalls," and "Online State Resources for Genealogy: Beyond Ancestry and FamilySearch," National Genealogical Society Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, 9-12 May 2012
"Maryland Resources - Part 1," "Maryland Resources - Part 2," and "State Archives & Other Online Resources of the South," Course 3: Research in the South, Part I, Samford University, Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR), Birmingham, Alabama, 10-15 June 2012
"Records of the Slave Claims Commissions," Course 8: Researching African-American Ancestors: Slave & Reconstruction Era Records, Samford University, Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR), Birmingham, Alabama, 10-15 June 2012
"What is a 'Reasonably Exhaustive Search'?," webinar, Legacy Family Tree, 12 September 2012
"Your Civil War Ancestors: Beginning Your Research," webinar, Legacy Family Tree, 24 October 2012
Past Engagements
"Your Civil War Ancestors: A Guide to Research," Mid-Atlantic Family History Conference, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 17 October 2009
"African-American Genealogy: Tearing Down the Brickwalls," Hudson County Genealogical Society/New Jersey chapter of Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Secaucus, New Jersey, 13 February 2010
"Your Immigrant Ancestors: A Brief Guide to Research," Laurel Historical Society, Genealogy Group Meeting, Laurel, Maryland, 8 March 2010
"African-American Genealogy in Maryland," Washington, D. C., Family History Center, 4th Annual Family History Conference, Kensington, Maryland, 17 April 2010
"Researching Online at the Maryland State Archives Website," Spring Meeting, National Capital Area Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists, Washington, D. C., 17 April 2010
"Case Study: Alexina (Newman) Scott," Laurel Historical Society, Genealogy Group Meeting, Laurel, Maryland, 10 May 2010
"Your Civil War Ancestors: A Guide to Research" and "Researching Online at the Maryland State Archives Website," Baltimore Family History & Genealogy Workshop, Essex, Maryland, 11 September 2010
"Beyond Ancestry and FamilySearch: Online Records for African-American Research," Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society - Central Maryland chapter, Columbia, Maryland, 25 September 2010
“African-American Research in Maryland,” 2010 Annual AAHGS Conference, Adelphi, Maryland, 7-10 October 2010
"Your Civil War Ancestors: A Guide to Research," Carroll County Genealogical Society, Westminster, Maryland, 18 October 2010
"Researching African-American Genealogy," (part of "Between Fences" exhibition co-sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute, the Maryland Humanities Council and the Laurel Historical Society), Laurel Library, Laurel, Maryland, 6 November 2010
"Your Civil War Ancestors: A Guide to Research," Baltimore County Genealogical Society, Parkville, Maryland, 28 November 2010
"African-American Genealogy: Tearing Down the Brickwalls," Prince George's County Genealogical Society, New Carrollton, Maryland, 1 December 2010
"Finding the Slave Owner: Approaches to Antebellum Research," Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, online webinar, 24 February 2011: African American History Month Webinar, hosted and moderated by GSP board member and genealogical researcher Shamele Jordon. This webinar provided researchers with multiple approaches to tracing their enslaved ancestor’s antebellum past. Using a variety of sources including oral history, wills, estate records, assessments, tax records and land records, the presenters shared the methodology used to directly and indirectly link to a slave owner.
Presenters:
Deborah Abbott, PhD, will trace a freed African American back to his enslaved past using land records in Danville, Kentucky.
Michael Hait will reconstruct a slave family using assessment lists in Talbot County, Maryland.
Floyd M. Riley will connect the dots using oral history, Freedman’s Bank records, and an estate packet in Leon County, Florida.
"African-American Genealogy: Tearing Down the Brickwalls" and "Case Study: Alexina (Newman) Scott," North Carolina Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists, Raleigh, North Carolina (remotely), 16 March 2011
"African-American Genealogy: Tearing Down the Brickwalls" and "Case Study: Alexina (Newman) Scott," African American Genealogy Group, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12 April 2011
"Identifying Slave Owners in Maryland," Reginald F. Lewis Museum for Maryland African American History & Culture, Baltimore, Maryland, 7 May 2011
"Branching Out Your Family Tree," Prince George's County Genealogical Society, 2011 Spring Seminar, Bowie, Maryland, 14 May 2011
"Your Civil War Ancestors: A Guide to Research," Maryland Historical Society/Maryland Genealogical Society, Baltimore, Maryland, 10 September 2011
"Michael Hait's African American Genealogy at a Glance," with Robin Foster, Over Troubled Water, BlogTalkRadio.com, 22 September 2011
"Digging Deeper: Dealing with Conflicting Genealogy Evidence," with DearMYRTLE, Geneabloggers Radio, BlogTalkRadio.com, 30 September 2011
"Using Civil War Records to Research African American Ancestors," Mid-Atlantic Family History Conference, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 15 October 2011
"African-American Genealogy: Tearing Down the Brickwalls" and "Case Study: Alexina (Newman) Scott," Howard County Community College, Columbia, Maryland, 1 November 2011
"What is a 'Reasonably Exhaustive Search'?," Pennsylvania Family History Day, sponsored by Ancestry.com and the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Exton, Pennsylvania, 5 November 2011
"What is a 'Reasonably Exhaustive Search'?," Sussex County Genealogical Society, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, 19 November 2011