Thank you for joining us for this year’s genealogy event! This year, this event is being held virtually. Today’s programs are only available today (Friday, October 16, 2026). They will not be viewable after this event. Below, you will find today’s agenda with a description of each of the programs as well as information about each of our speakers. If you have any questions about today’s event, or have trouble accessing a video, please contact the Waco-McLennan County Library by calling (254) 750-5945.
    
Time:
9:00 AM

Length: 50 Minutes
Building Your Digital Family History Archive, Difficulty: Intermediate
EvaAnne Johnson, Genealogy & Local History Librarian at Wilmette Public Library
While we are researching our family tree, we often collect a lot of digital files - from downloaded records and emailed documents to scanned photographs and mobile screenshots. What should we do with all these digital files, and how can we keep them organized? This presentation will cover the basics of digital preservation and outline practical steps for creating a well-structured Digital Family History Archive to safeguard your genealogy work.
  
Time:
10:00 AM

Length: 50 Minutes
Researching Your Scottish Ancestors, Difficulty: Intermediate
Erika A. Ward, PGCERT (Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies)
Do you have ancestors who emigrated from Scotland? Are you unsure of which records exist, how to use them, or where to find them? This class explores the rich landscape of Scottish historical sources- including census, church, civil, and immigration/emigration records- to help you uncover the stories hidden in your Scottish heritage.
  
Time:
11:00 AM

Length: 50 Minutes
Cluster Research, or Discovering You’re Related to the Whole Block, Difficulty: Intermediate
Jessica M. Trotter, Genealogy Presenter and Researcher
As Aristotle noted, “Man is by nature a social animal” -he has family, society, and throughout history he has moved with them. This session includes tips, tricks, and examples of how researching the neighborhood and other associates of your ancestors can further your own research.
  
Time:
12:50 PM

Length: 80 Minutes
Unlocking Your Roots: Starting Your Genealogy Journey, Difficulty: Beginner
Barbara Coakley, Genealogy Researcher, Speaker, Author
Learn how to start your genealogy journey or update your skills using a repeatable research process. Begin with what you already know, frame your research question, explore essential records, and organize your discoveries.
  
Time:
2:25 PM

Length: 50 Minutes
Beyond the Family Tree: An Introduction to Oral History for Genealogy, Difficulty: Beginner
Adrienne A. Cain Darough, MLS, CA, Assistant Director and Clinical Associate Professor, Institute f
Genealogy often begins with documents, but it becomes powerful through storytelling. This presentation explores the fundamentals of oral history and how intentional interviewing can uncover context, culture, and connections that traditional records may miss. Learn how to plan, conduct, and preserve meaningful family interviews.
  
Time:
3:30 PM

Length: 50 Minutes
Texas & Southern Genealogy Resources at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, Difficulty: Beginner
Margaret Schlankey, Assistant Director for Public Services, Dolph Briscoe Center for American Histo
The Briscoe Center has a vast collection of resources helpful to genealogists with roots in Texas and the American South. This presentation will go over what's available and how to access them.
  
Time:
4:35 PM

Length: 50 Minutes
Researching Your Revolutionary War Soldier: A Case Study, Difficulty: Intermediate
Craig R. Scott, CG, FUGA, President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc.
A Revolutionary War ancestor can be a goldmine of information if you know where to look. This lecture aims to examine types of service, compiled military service records, pension applications, settled accounts, and where other documents can be found using a step-by-step methodology in a case study.
  
Time:
5:40 PM

Length: 50 Minutes
Gen Z + Genealogy: Getting the Younger Generation Interested in Genealogy Research, Difficulty: Beginner
Carl Smith, MLIS, Manager of the Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus
Do you have a passion for family history but are worried about who carries the genealogical torch after you? Join in for a special presentation on Gen Z + Genealogy- where we’ll discuss tips and tricks on how to foster understanding, communication, and participation with the younger generations, and ideas to better market genealogy to different age groups in ways that can increase interest in the topic all around.
  
This event was cosponsored by: