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Wisconsin STate Genealogical Society

December 2019

Genealogy Pit Stop: Research in 15 Minute Increments

  • Presenter: Thomas MacEnteeThomas MacEntee
  • Date:  December 17, 2019
  • Webinar Description: You have 15 minutes before you need to _____ (pick up the grandchildren / wash the dog / make dinner ...). Is it really possible to do meaningful genealogy research in that short time period? Are you putting off researching an ancestor because you believe you need a two or three hour block of time? Learn how to use the Genealogy Pit Stop concept to succeed in the research race! Participants will learn what race car driving teams already know: you can accomplish important, detail-oriented work in a short amount of time. You'll learn how to leverage to-do lists, research logs, tracking systems, clue gathering tricks and more to actually do genealogy research every day! No more saving that research for when you have a large block of time.

 



November 2019

Steamers, Tugs and Schooners: Shipping and Commerce on the Great LakesCari Taplin

  • Presenter: Cari Taplin, CG
  • Date:  November 19, 2019
  • Webinar Description: The Great Lakes waterways were instrumental in the growth of the region, for both Canada and the United States. The history of shipping in the region parallels the population expansion and settlement of the Great Lakes. This class will examine the major shipping routes and ports on the Great Lakes, including information on passenger lists, shipwrecks, military defense, and population expansion. There will also be a discussion of major businesses that boomed in the area especially those that depended on shipping for transportation of goods.

 



October 2019

James M. Beidler

Your Immigrants' Germany: Microstates and Microbreweries

  • Presenter: James M. Beidler
  • Date:  October 15, 2019
  • Webinar Description: A concise history of Germany followed by details on some types of records affected by disunity, major state by major state. Presentation concludes with a number of case studies using some microstates as examples.

 



September 2019

Michael Strauss

Following the Tracks: Your Ancestors on the Railroad

  • Presenter: Michael Strauss
  • Date:  September 17, 2019
  • Webinar Description: Railroads for nearly two centuries have been the preferred mode of transportation for many of our ancestors. Their rich history includes details on when lines started, ceased, merged, or filed bankruptcy. Records including employee, manuscripts, directories, pensions, social security, and other organizations including the Pullman Porters and Harvey Girls are examined.

 

 



August 2019

The 1849 Wisconsin Asiatic Cholera Epidemic and Its Implications for Genealogical Research

  • Presenter: Jean Wilcox HibbenJean Wilcox Hibben
  • Date:  August 20, 2019
  • Webinar Description: Americans took a while to get familiar with how diseases were spread, what precautions could be taken to minimize exposure, and why vaccinations were so important. While the medical community promoted sanitation and healthy lifestyles and the U.S. government got involved in encouraging the eradication of dieseases, in 1849 and lasting about two years, Wisconsin was overtaken by a cholera epidemic that was quickly at pandemic level. Did your ancestor die of the disease? So many did that a lot of deaths escaped being recorded. Many statistics were disguised so that public panic would be minimized. Learn the facts surrounding the outbreak as well as the effect politics and economics had on how the pandemic was handled; it just might solve one of your family history dilemmas.




July 2019

Annette Burke Lyttle

Reconstructing the Lives of Our Farming Ancestors

  • Presenter: Annette Burke Lyttle
  • Date:  July 16, 2019
  • Webinar Description: It's a rare family tree that doesn't contain at least some farm families. What was daily life like for our farming ancestors? Learn how genealogical records and social history resources can help us answer that question in four different centuries of American history.




June 2019

What's New in DNA Testing and Tools

  • Presenter: Mary Eberle, JDMary Eberle
  • Date:  June 18, 2019
  • Webinar Description: DNA testing companies and tools change rapidly. This talk offers something for everyone--whether you're trying to decide which DNA test to take, you've tested yourself but aren't sure what your DNA results mean, you've tested your entire family and are overwhelmed, or simply want additional tools for analyzing DNA results. Learn about the new DNA tesing companies and how to pick the best company for your family research goals. Also learn about tools for analyzing your DNA test results: DNA Painter's tools, Leeds method for sorting DNA matches, Gedmatch, and DNA Client from DNAGedcom.com for downloading DNA match information into spreadsheets. These tools provide new ways of analyzing DNA test results to maximize your DNA test results.




May 2019

Southerners in the Northern Midwest

  • Presenter: Peggy Clemens LauritzenPeggy Clemens Lauritzen, AG, FOGS
  • Date:  May 21, 2019
  • Webinar Description: There were several young southern men, and even families who migrated to the north woods of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. What was the draw for these families who had lived in the south for generations?

This Webinar was Supported by Debra Batt in Memory of her Aunt, Ardis Jean McKee



April 2019

Nancy E. Loe

Picture This: Cataloging Digital Family Photographs

  • Presenter: Nancy E. Loe
  • Date:  April 16, 2019
  • Webinar Description: Family photographs may seem so complex that they defy organizing. Tame your digital family photographs by learning how to insert names, dates, and other information inside images to make them searchable. This webinar outlines a simple and effective workflow, beginning with scanning and adding information for retrieval, followed by linking photos to digital images, and then filing and backing up your family photographs.




March 2019

Janice Lovelace

Is Great-Grandmother Really Native American? An Introduction to Native American Genealogical Research

  • Presenter: Janice Lovelace
  • Date:  March 19, 2019
  • Webinar Description: Many families have the oral history that an ancestor was Native American. How does a family researcher begin to discover if this is true? What federal, state and tribal records are available?

 

 


​February 2019

Introduction to a Surname Study

  • Presenter: Julie GoucherJulie Goucher
  • Date:  February 19, 2019
  • Webinar Description: In this presentation we will explore what a surname study is and then look at the approaches to begin and construct a study. Identifying the likely size of such a study, geographical distribution of the surname and where to look to understand the history of surnames. We then move onto the practical elements of a study, where to keep data, how to gather it and feature some of the "quick wins." We then explore analysing and synthising the data gathered. We discuss sharing, advertising and promoting the study so that you can hopefully connect with others and then focus on incorporating DNA projects into a surname project as another research tool.




January 2019

Tina Beaird

Spirit of St. Louis: Military and Civilian Records at the National Personnel Records Center

  • Presenter: Tina Beaird
  • Date:  January 15, 2019
  • Webinar Description: The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis has many records pertinent to your soldier's service. OMPFs, Official Military Personnel Files, monthly regimental rolls, hospital records, military court-martials and graves registration service files all offer clues into your veteran's military experience. NPRC also houses civilian and government employment files as well. Was your grandfather in the Civilian Conservation Corps? Was your mother Postmaster? These records are available as well! Tina will describe the types of information to be found in these records and how you can access them in person.


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