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 20, 2023). 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: 75 Minutes
Secrets to Successful Writing & Publishing, Difficulty: Intermediate
Angela Breidenbach, Executive Director of the International Institute of Genealogical Studies
Gain a solid overview of the real writing world. Learn the “big picture” and key tools to take your writing to the next level. The presentation will explore a variety of important topics including style, editing, building a portfolio, marketing your work, and more!
  
Time:
10:25 AM

Length: 50 Minutes
Linking the Generations with Court and Land Records, Difficulty: Intermediate
Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL, The Legal Genealogist Sponsored by Texas Research Ramblers Genealogical Society
It’s the single biggest issue genealogists face: how do we connect one generation to the next with reliable evidence? Vital records are excellent documentation, but they often don’t exist for the time and place we’re researching. We must make sure we’re not simply putting people into family lines because they share the same names. Using court and land records, we can often find the evidence needed to link the generations accurately.
  
Time:
11:25 AM

Length: 50 Minutes
Visiting the Hill College Texas Heritage Museum, Difficulty: Beginner
John Versluis, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Texas Heritage Museum at Hill College
This presentation will showcase the Hill College, Texas Heritage Museum with an overview of the Museum’s Galleries and Collection Division and highlight the holdings in the Museum’s Historical Research Center Division. This center is nationally recognized as a Civil War Repository with an extensive collection of maps, photos, and microfilm. Also available is an archive that contains files of soldiers’ letters, diaries, and unpublished manuscripts from all Texas wars.
  
Time:
12:25 PM

Length: 75 Minutes
Genealogy Basics: Start Searching for Your Ancestors Today, Difficulty: Beginner
Irene B Walters, Librarian, Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus in Houston
Need info on the names, dates, and places your family lived? Interested in finding out how to track down your family stories? Come learn the basics you need to get started! Discover the tools available, starting with home sources and continuing with the types of created records that are useful for genealogical research and where they can be found. Also covered will be ways to stay organized by utilizing paper charts and forms or computer software.
  
Time:
1:50 PM

Length: 50 Minutes
Tame the Chaos Tiger: Organize Your Records and Research, Difficulty: Beginner
Susan Ball, President TxSGS
How many times are the solutions to our brick walls found in records we already have? This presentation starts with taming the physical chaos caused by lack of organization and continues with taming the research chaos caused by poorly defined and overlooked research. Explore templates for organizational tools to help organize information and form a research plan.
  
Time:
2:50 PM

Length: 50 Minutes
Uncover Your Family’s Story Using the Periodical Source Index (PERSI), Difficulty: Beginner
Elizabeth Hodges, MA, MSLIS, Senior Librarian in the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Recently made free to the public, the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) is the premier subject index for genealogy and local history periodicals, and is produced by the staff of The Genealogy Center. Learn how to make PERSI your new favorite tool in your family history tool box!
  
Time:
3:50 PM

Length: 50 Minutes
Placing Your DNA Matches on Your Tree, Difficulty: Intermediate
Ryan Russell, Genetic Genealogist, Open Door Genetics
When you take a DNA test, you'll receive a match list of mostly strangers. Who are these people, and how are you connected? This session discusses strategies for identifying your DNA matches and determining your common ancestors. Whether your goal is to collect more information about your ancestors or break through brick walls on your tree, gaining a better understanding of your DNA matches can lead to new discoveries.
  
Time:
4:50 PM

Length: 50 Minutes
Checking on Czech Immigrants to the United States, Difficulty: Intermediate
Heather Mecham, Research Specialist for FamilySearch
Identifying the town name of an immigrant ancestor is key to discovering Czech roots. Many United States records can reveal an immigrant’s place of origin. This class highlights United States record types key to Czech research. Learn about FamilySearch resources such as Czechia Guided Research which can help locate the correct Czech Archive once a town name is known.
  
This event was cosponsored by: