How to Tap into Tax Records to Enrich Your Genealogy – Research

Emily Sienkiewicz

“Hate taxes? As a genealogist, think again! Tax collectors have produced invaluable genealogical records that offer insights and clues unavailable elsewhere. Explore how to use historical tax records to uncover occupation details, death dates, land ownership, household compositions, and much more about your ancestors. Learn where to find these records and how to interpret them to enrich your family histories. You’ll gain key strategies to tap into taxation documents and bring your ancestors’ stories to life. Georgia-based genealogist and historian Jennifer Dunn specializes in tracking poor and hard-to-find ancestors in the Southern US using strategies such as social history and cluster research. Find out more about her at Copper Mine Genealogy. For details see acpl.libnet.info/event/9989105”

Growing Little Leaves: Children and Genealogy

Emily Sienkiewicz

Get the kids in your family interested about their family history! Learn about fun, hands-on ways in which to engage and teach the children in your life about their ancestors, and why learning family history stories can be beneficial to children and teens. Presented by Emily Kowalski Schroeder. Emily Kowalski Schroeder is the creator and author of the Growing Little Leaves blog. Since 2014, she has designed and presented beginner genealogy and heritage classes for both adults and children. She has also had the privilege of speaking at the Federation of Genealogical Societies National Conference and at RootsTech. She is currently employed as a reference staff member for the Cuyahoga County Public Library system in …

Navigating Unexpected Genealogical Finds

Emily Sienkiewicz

Genealogy is a popular topic, and more people than ever want to find their roots. However, many do not think about the emotional fallout from learning or exposing family history. Explore resources you can use to deal with what happens when you discover unexpected information about ancestors. This session goes beyond how to discover who your ancestors are and focuses on the aftermath of finding your roots. Our speakers from the Library of Congress are Candice Buchanan and Sheree Budge. They will share examples of the secrets that family history research sometimes reveals (e.g., unknown associations, adoptions, slaveholding ancestors, inherited medical conditions). We use a few examples as case studies and provide resources that family …

Grip, Grippe & the Spanish Lady: The 1918 Pandemic & Your Family Records – with Michelle Spencer

Emily Sienkiewicz

The influenza outbreak came in waves that lasted almost 3 years from mid-1918 through early 1920. This presentation will place the pandemic in context of when, why, and where it occurred. This context provides genealogists with the best tools to search for records. The presentation covers what records exist, where to find them, and a few surprising sources of information. Free and open to the public. Past Genealogy Pro Talk webinars are available for view by UGA members. Please register in advance for this program. https://ugagenealogy.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8PtaJxASSpCHx2X4XWfMeQ For details see https://ugagenealogy.org/eventListings.php?nm=626

Maiden Names and Dower Right: Documenting your Female Ancestors

Emily Sienkiewicz

In countries with English influence, marriage historically resulted in women giving up their maiden names and losing many of their legal rights. This program will introduce the concepts of couverture, dower right, and other legal principles that may influence records of your ancestors. It will also guide you through navigating those records to learn more about your female ancestors’ lives. For details see southwindsorlibrary.libcal.com/event/11596438

The Index of Suffragettes Arrested – Secrets of the National Archives

Emily Sienkiewicz

At the turn of the twentieth century, Votes for women was one of the biggest domestic political issues of the day. Suffrage supporters, frustrated with the lack of progress, turned to increasingly militant methods, from heckling politicians to arson attacks. The government was constantly struggling to keep up with their innovative, evolving campaigns. In response, the Home Office created an index of arrested Suffragettes to keep tabs on the activities of individuals, record aliases and link convictions. Through this single iconic document, it is possible to gain an insight into a vibrant national movement. It records the leaders of the movement, alongside the everyday foot soldiers who were the backbone of suffrage activism. The index …

Researching Your Female Ancestors

Emily Sienkiewicz

Researching your female ancestors can be a difficult task. The largely standard practice of changing their surnames after marriage can make women hard to track, and many historical records focus on men with women being listed only under their husbands’ names. This class will offer some guidance for researching female ancestors including information about sources that you may not have thought to check. Please note that registration is required for this event as it is taking place over Zoom. For details see bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/65b2f17d1b80e24800af3402

Finding Her: Our Female Ancestor

Emily Sienkiewicz

Though our female ancestor may be elusive, by understanding her role in other people’s lives and the community, we can find a variety of records documenting her life. Melissa Tennant Rzepczynski, with extensive experience in family history instruction and research methodologies, offers her knowledge and strong customer service skills to those interested in exploring their family roots. Founder of Branch Discoveries, LLC in 2022, she provides consultations, document retrievals, research services, and presentations. With over two decades in the genealogical field, Melissa’s expertise spans various areas, including Midwest and Southeast U.S. families, immigration, migration, property records, probate records, African American, and female ancestors. Melissa initiated her genealogical career at the Hillsborough County Public Library in …