Ann has been a genealogical instructor in the Elderhostel Program in central Florida and teaches a week-long genealogy class at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. She is a Past President of the Florida State Genealogical Society, a Past President of the Central Florida Genealogical Society and has completed courses at Samford University’s Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research in Birmingham, AL. Ann was a 1997 recipient of The Florida State Genealogical Society’s Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to the field of genealogical education. She has been published in the FGS Forum, the APG Quarterly and numerous genealogical and historical society journals.
Biography A native of West Virginia, Ann has been a Central Florida resident for the past forty-three years and has served as Managing Instructor for the Genealogy Programs at the Disney Institute in Orlando, FL. She taught genealogy classes for the Orange County, FL Adult Education Program for nineteen years and was a computer lab genealogy instructor at the Seminole County, FL Community College, now Seminole State College. Ann has been a genealogical instructor in the Elderhostel Program in central Florida and teaches a week-long genealogy class at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. She is a Past President of the Florida State Genealogical Society, a Past President of the Central Florida Genealogical Society and has completed courses at Samford University’s Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research in Birmingham, AL. Ann was a 1997 recipient of The Florida State Genealogical Society’s Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to the field of genealogical education. She has been published in the FGS Forum, the APG Quarterly and numerous genealogical and historical society journals.
Lecture Topics “Where Have All The Cousins Gone” - Connecting on the Internet
“Backing Up To the Boat” - Immigration and Naturalization
“Calico & Cornbread” - Finding Your Female Ancestor
“He Said, She Said, They Said” - Importance of Oral History Interviews
“AAA Isn’t The Only Show In Town” - Diligent Preparation for a Research Trip
“Out of the Census Into the Bookstacks” - Using Varied Library Resources
“The Paper Trail” - Ins and Outs of Courthouse Research
“Dead Men (and Women) Do Talk” - Effective Cemetery Research
“Fast Forward In Reverse” - Backing Up To Go Forward
“My Family Were Methodists or Were They” - Finding Religious Records
“Marching Through The Files” - Importance of Military Records
“Local Logic” – Using Local and County Histories
“Legends, Lies & Lineages” – Family Fiction vs. Genealogical Facts
“Not Just a Clockmaker” – Exploring Your Ancestor’s Occupations
“The Myths of Migration” – Concentric Circles in Census Records
"Chronological Logic" -- Timelines in Genealogical Research
Classes & Workshops
Beginners Class - Includes Home Clues, Recording & Organizing, Vital Records & Courthouse Research, Religious & Cemetery Records, Military Records, Passenger & Immigration Records, Census & Soundex
Intermediate Class - Library Research - Genealogical Collections including Newspaper Research, City Directories, County/Local Histories, PERSI and more. LDS Family History Library Research in depth.
Programs and Classes may be “customized” to suit your organization or group.
Previous Speaking Engagements Central Florida Genealogical Society Workshops, multiple times
Central Florida Genealogical Society Programs, yearly
East Central Florida Genealogical Society Co-op Annual Share Fair - 1997-2000
Florida State Genealogical Society Annual Conference - multiple times since 1998
Federation of Genealogical Societies Annual Conference, Orlando, FL – 2003
Federation of Genealogical Societies - APG Conference, Boston, MA – 2006
John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC - yearly since 2000
Florida Genealogical Society, Tampa, FL
Tanglewood Genealogy Club, Sebring, FL
The Lee County Genealogical Society, Fort Myers, FL – 2003
The Genealogical Society of Greater Miami, FL – 2003
The Genealogical Society of Okeechobee, FL – 2003
The Villages Genealogical Society, Lake Co., FL – multiple times
Jewish Genealogical Society of Central Florida. Orlando, FL - multiple times
Roots & Branches Genealogical Society - Deland, FL - classes & annual programs
Halifax Genealogical Society - Ormond Beach, FL -multiple times
Citrus County Genealogical Society, Inverness, FL - several times
Treasure Coast Genealogical Society, Fort Pierce, FL
Palm Beach County Genealogical Society, West Palm Beach, FL
Marion County Genealogical Society, Ocala, FL - multiple times
Afro-American Genealogical Society, Orlando, FL
North Brevard Genealogical Society, Titusville, FL
Brevard Genealogical Society, Cocoa, FL
Genealogical Society of South Brevard, Melbourne, FL - multiple times
Volusia County Genealogical Society, Daytona Beach, FL - multiple times
Past Finders of South Lake County, Clermont, FL
Apopka Historical Society, Apopka, FL
Sanford Historical Society, Sanford, FL
Florida Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, Orlando, FL Conference
Elderhostel Programs - San Pedro, Canterbury and Deer Haven Retreats
Harry P. Leu Gardens Education Department, Orlando, FL - multiple times
University Club of Winter Park, Winter Park, FL - multiple times
Osceola Library System, Kissimmee, FL - Instituted Genealogy Programs – 1991
Presentations for Orange & Seminole County School Systems as Public Service
Disney Cruise Lines, Orlando, FL - Workshop at Sea – 1998
