Family History Sampler: Different Strategies for Diverse Ancestors

Cohosted by the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania

Sharpen your research skills with this Family History Sampler hybrid seminar. The day-long program features three of the nation’s best genealogy presenters sharing research tips on finding and utilizing documentary records relating to varied ethnicities and from varied places and time periods in American history. You choose whether to attend this hybrid event online or in-person in center city Philadelphia. Either way, you’ll leave with the skills for finding and digging into records of the people for whom you are searching, from the 18th through the 20th centuries.

Rich Venezia bookends the seminar with presentations on “Naturalization Know-How" and “Discovering Your Immigrant’s Origins,” a pair of topics needed by virtually all genealogists but especially those whose forebears arrived around the turn into the 20th century. Rick Sayre will run through a comprehensive survey of “Researching Revolutionary War Soldiers,” whose records range from the conflict in the 1770s through the mid-1800s. LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson will talk about “Correlating Indirect Evidence to Identify Enslaved Parents,” focusing on a skill (the power of indirect evidence) that’s crucial for any genealogist to understand and use.

Collections and Library Access at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

The Reading Room will not be open on Saturday, May 20. Special access reserved for seminar attendees will be offered on Friday, May 19 from 1 pm-4 pm. Please email programs@hsp.org.

Don’t miss the hands-on Genealogy Records: Show, Tell and Interpret workshop on Friday, May 19 from 10 AM-12 PM, with HSP’s Katy Bodenhorn Barnes and GSP’s James Beidler. This show and tell program will share the breadth of resources available for genealogical research in special collection libraries like the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Tickets can be purchased here.

Schedule

• 9:00 AM: Doors open. Coffee and pastries will be available in the morning.

• 9:15 AM: Opening Remarks. The webinar will begin at this time.

• 9:30 AM: Morning Lectures with Q & A
• Rich Venezia: Naturalization Know-How
• Rick Sayre: Researching Revolutionary War Soldiers

• 12:00 PM: Lunch. An optional box lunch will be available for purchase ahead of time. Attendees may also leave and purchase lunch offsite.

• 1:30 PM: Afternoon Lectures with Q & A
• LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson: Correlating Indirect Evidence to Identify Enslaved Parents
• Rich Venezia: Discovering Your Immigrant’s Origins

• 3:45 PM: Closing Remarks.

Speakers' Bios:

Rich Venezia is a nationally-recognized genealogist and genealogical lecturer who is an expert in the research of 20th-century immigrant ancestors, especially in underutilized record sources and federal records. He is the go-to guy for assistance with dual citizenship applications for Italy and Ireland.

Rick Sayre is a long-time researcher and instructor in genealogical topics who coordinates various family history institute courses, including one on advanced military records. He holds various credentials and is a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Assocation.

LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson was a tax lawyer for 35 years before retiring from a partner-level position at Ernst & Young, and is now an author, lecturer, and teacher, was elected as a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists, one of genealogy’s highest honors.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, founded in 1824, is one of the nation’s largest archives of historical documents. We are proud to serve as Philadelphia’s Library of American History, with over 21 million manuscripts, books, and graphic images encompassing centuries of US history. Through educator workshops, research opportunities, public programs, and lectures throughout the year, we strive to make history relevant and exhilarating to all. For more information, visit hsp.org.

Founded in 1892, the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (GSP) is one of the earliest genealogical societies in the United States in the United States, among the first to recognize the value of collecting and preserving the vital and personal records of people whose lives comprise much of our American history. GSP provides leadership and support in promoting genealogy through education, preservation, and access to Pennsylvania-related genealogical information.