Genealogy Presentations

These are my upcoming genealogy presentations.  If you are interested in having me speak to your group, please look over the list of my available talks at the bottom of the page and contact me at janicemsj@gmail.com.  I can also create new talks, if you would like a topic that is not on the list, and can customize an existing presentation.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024
What Is Forensic Genealogy Really?
Puget Sound Genealogical Society
online

Saturday, January 11, 2025
Reconstructing Family Information When You Start with Almost Nothing:  A Case Study
Genealogical Society of Washington County, Oregon
online

Monday, February 3, 2025
Freedmen's Bureau 2.0:  A Better Way to Do Slave Research
For Black History Month
Corona Genealogical Society
prerecorded, online

Thursday, February 6, 2025
Introduction to Black American Genealogy
For Black History Month
Vancouver Community Library
online

Saturday, March 8, 2025
Freedmen's Bureau 2.0:  A Better Way to Do Slave Research
African American Genealogy Seminar
online

Monday, May 5, 2025
Jewish Genealogy:  How Is This Research Different from All Other Research?
For Jewish American Heritage Month
Corona Genealogical Society
prerecorded, online

Saturday, September 13, 2025
Jewish Genealogy:  How Is This Research Different from All Other Research?
Researching Your Historic LGBT Relatives
Intoduction to Black American Genealogy
They Died in San Francisco: A Little Used Source of Pre-1906 Deaths
San Diego Genealogical Society


Available Presentations (* = new presentation)

Newspapers
• Read All about It!:  Using Online Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• All the New York News That's Fit to Read Online*
• Using Online Historical Jewish Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using Online Historical Black Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using the Subscription Newspaper Web Sites at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries
• Follow a Family through 150 Years of Newspapers

Jewish
• Introduction to Jewish Genealogy
• Jewish Genealogy:  How Is This Research Different from All Other Research?
• Online Resources for Jewish Genealogy
• Using Online Historical Jewish Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Bubbie, Who Are You?:  Finding the Maiden Names in Your Family Tree
• Isaac Joseph of South Carolina and Daniel Joseph of Virginia:  Brothers?
• Finding and Following the Paths of My Cuban Cousins

Black American
• Introduction to Black American Genealogy
• Online Resources for Black American Genealogy Research*
• Freedmen's Bureau 2.0:  A Better Way to Do Slave Research
• Finding Family Members in Freedman's Bank Records
• Using Online Historical Black Newspapers for Genealogical Research

Introduction to Genealogy
• Introduction to Genealogy:  Family History to Share with Your Family
• Introduction to Jewish Genealogy
• Introduction to Black American Genealogy

Records
• The Census Survey:  The First Step in Your Research*
• So You Found Them in the Census:  That's Only the Start!
• Vital Records and the Calendar Change of 1752
• Get Me to the Church on Time:  Finding Religious Records
• Where There's a Will:  Probate Records Can Prove Family Connections
• Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust:  What's Buried in Cemetery Records
• Anybody Home?:  Using City (and Other) Directories in Your Research
• Grandma, Who Are You?:  Finding the Maiden Names in Your Family Tree
• Immigration and Naturalization Research
• They Died in San Francisco:  A Little Used Source of Pre-1906 Deaths

Online Research
• Digging Deeper on FamilySearch
• Irish Research Online
• Online Resources for Jewish Genealogy
• Read All about It!:  Using Online Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using Online Historical Black Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using Online Historical Jewish Newspapers for Genealogical Research
• Using the Subscription Newspaper Web Sites at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries

Other Topics
• Dual Citizenship and Right of Return*
• But It Wasn't a Foreign Language to Your Ancestors
• Researching Historic LGBT Relatives
• Why Would They Put It Online If They Didn't Want Me to Use It?:  Copyright Issues for Genealogy
• Cite This:  Citing Your Sources in Genealogical Research
• Reading and Transcribing American Colonial Handwriting
• What Is Forensic Genealogy Really?
• Reconstructing Family Information When You Start with Almost Nothing:  A Case Study
• Using Finding Aids for Jewish Records to Help Research Non-Jewish Ancestors

Shorter Presentations (suitable for luncheon and dinner events)
• A Tale of Two Brothers:  The Patriot and the Outlaw
• Amazing Things You Can Find in the Newspaper about Your Relatives

5 comments:

  1. UnknownJune 14, 2017 at 5:34 PM

    Hi Janice, My family genealogy, when I get a chance to work on it, has been really enjoyable, but my husband's family not so much. An african-american family with the two primary surnames of Smith and Johnson. I know that there are african-american genealogy sites. Do you have any recommendations? My Mormon almost-daughter-in-law has access to Mormon sources, but since there were not African American Mormons until relatively recently I don't if that would be useful. Any help appreciated, Lisa Pondsmith

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janice M. SellersJune 14, 2017 at 8:33 PM

      Hi, Lisa,

      The first thing to do is the same basic research as everyone else, which means starting with whatever family members were alive in 1940, finding as many of them as possible in the census, and then going back methodically every ten years to find them in as many censuses as possible. The best site to search the census is Ancestry.com, available free to use in all FamilySearch Centers and Libraries and also at many public libraries.

      Ideally, you want to be able to take at least one line back to 1870, at which point you should start looking for those family members in the Freedmen's Bureau and Freedman's Bank records. These are both available free online. Bureau records can be most effectively searched at DiscoverFreedmen.org. Bank records are online at FamilySearch.org. If your not-quite-daughter-in-law hasn't done a lot of research herself, the aforementioned FamilySearch Centers and Libraries have lots of helpful volunteers who can help you. There has to be at least one center/library close to you.

      And if all else fails, I'll be moving up to the Portland area soon, and I can come by and help you in person. :)

      Janice

      Delete
  2. MelissaMay 5, 2018 at 11:29 AM

    Hello Ms. Sellers,
    I recently received my DNA results and need some assistance in unraveling a mystery, I have a new relative that might be an aunt or half sibling. If I summit my DNA results such as segments, CMs and SNPs would you be able to assist me?

    Thank you,
    Melissa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janice M. SellersMay 5, 2018 at 11:56 AM

      Hello, Melissa,

      Thank you for contacting me. Yes, I can assist you. Send me a message at janicemsj@gmail.com and we can discuss your research.

      Janice

      Delete
  3. gophergenealogyJune 9, 2018 at 6:59 PM

    Lovely website and blog. Looking forward to learning more in the future.

    ReplyDelete

All comments on this blog will be previewed by the author to prevent spammers and unkind visitors to the site. The blog is open to everyone, particularly those interested in family history and genealogy.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)