Searching Your Genealogy Series

Cost:

Nordic Northwest Members: $60

General Admission: $70

Arts For All: $25

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Have you watched Ancestry.com commercials and thought, “I want to do that”? Have you asked questions and made notes about your family, and now feel ready to take the next step? Would you like to know what genealogical research involves and how to start? Would you like a computer program to help you keep your information organized? Genealogy is neither as easy as the commercials and TV programs make it sound nor as complicated as it used to be. Take the first step—come to this class and find out if this is the hobby for you.

Wednesday, May 8, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Nordia House

Introduction to Genealogy

In this first class you’ll learn the basics of what it takes to dig into your genealogy.

Wednesday, June 12, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Nordia House

The Census Survey: First Step in Actual Research

You've collected the information you have at home, talked to family members, and begun putting all those facts into a family tree program.  But how do you start to do the actual research?  One of the best ways is to find family members in the census and get an overview of their lives.  We'll talk about where you can find censuses online and off, techniques for searching, and the information that you'll find.

Wednesday, July 10, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Nordia House

Vital Records and the Calendar Change of 1752

Learn about the wealth of information found in birth, marriage, and death records. Learn how to obtain vital records created at the various levels of the U.S. government: federal, state, county, and town. There will be also a discussion of the calendar change of 1752 (and similar changes in other countries) and how it affects genealogical research.

Wednesday, August 14, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Nordia House

Using Online Newspapers for Genealogical Research

Newspapers are valuable in genealogical research because you can find information about births, marriages, deaths, moves, business, naturalizations, court cases, and more. Millions of pages of the world's newspapers are now accessible online, but there is no one place to find them all. This class provides an overview of what is available online and techniques to help improve your chances of finding information about your relatives.

Wednesday, September 11, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Nordia House

Immigration and Naturalization

When researching an immigrant ancestor, finding information here in the U.S. is the necessary first step. This class identifies resources and provides tools and strategies to help you make the leap to the “old country.”

Wednesday, October 9, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Nordia House

Citing Your Sources in Genealogical Research

Do you struggle with source citations? There is a bewildering assortment of citation rules, correct forms, and varying approaches. Do you have issues with consistency? Why should you even bother with citations? This class will shed light on these and other genealogy source citation topics and provide online resources to assist you. 

Wednesday, November 13, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Nordia House

Research your Swedish Heritage in Living Color Using ArkivDigital

Note: You do not have to have a Swedish background to take something away from attending this class.

ArkivDigital is an online service that provides access to newly photographed color images of Swedish historical records. Record types include Swedish church books, estate inventories, military records, court records, tax registers, passenger ship lists, Swedish American church books, aerial photographs, maps, and other documents. You can now search many of the key collections by name. In this presentation, the focus will be on researching the Swedish church books using both archive search and index search. Discover how quickly you can discover your Swedish heritage!   Kathy Meade is the North American representative for ArkivDigital. This company offers online access to newly photographed color images of the Swedish church books and other historical records. She has been working with Swedish genealogy for nearly twenty years. She serves on the advisory board for the Swedish American Genealogy Research Center at the Swedish American Museum in Chicago and volunteers at the museum and the Arlington Heights Memorial Library in Arlington Heights, Illinois, helping patrons with their Swedish genealogical research.

Meet your instructor, Janice Sellers:

Janice M. Sellers is related to actor Peter Sellers and to John of Gaunt, son of a king and father of a king. At least that’s what her grandparents told her. Unfortunately, they were wrong, but that’s why she has researched her family for 47 years and now helps others find the right pieces to fit their genealogy puzzles. She specializes in Jewish, Black, dual citizenship, and forensic research. She previously worked in publishing as an editor and indexer and currently edits two genealogy journals. Her site is ancestraldiscoveries.com.​

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