Karen Fortin received her Bachelor's Degree in History and her Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. She worked in a variety of positions at the Barbara S. Ponce Public Library in Pinellas Park, FL for 30 years.
Biography Karen Fortin received her Bachelor's Degree in History and her Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. She worked in a variety of positions at the Barbara S. Ponce Public Library in Pinellas Park, FL for 30 years.
Karen's love of history, especially family history, led her to an interest in genealogy. She began volunteering with the Pinellas Genealogy Society in Largo, FL in 2012, and started her own business providing genealogy and history presentations in 2016. One of her goals is to help people explore historical periods, places, and events so that they can better understand their ancestors and the world in which they lived.
Lecture Topics HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
Dead Men Do Tell Tales: Reconstructing Life in a Community Using Death Certificates
King Philip's War, 1675-1676: Causes & Consequences
Orphan Trains and the Children Who Rode Them
Was Your Ancestor Accused of Being a Witch?: Exploring the Colonial New England Witchcraft Trials
GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES, METHODS, & MORE
AmericanAncestors.org: Searching the Online Databases
Creating Google Earth Tours
Grow a Family Tree: Introducing Genealogy
Grow a Family Tree! (Youth version)
Local & County History Books
Library Catalog Searching for Genealogists
Sharing Interesting Ancestors with Family: Writing Brief Narrative Sketches
They Died of What?!: Understanding Historical Causes of Death
Walking in Their Footsteps: Locating Places Where Our Ancestors Lived and Worked
GENERAL INTEREST PROGRAMS AND SHORT-TALKS
Buried Treasure: Exploring Your Family History Collection
Salem, 1692 [Short-talk]
They Died of What?! [Short-talk]
Walking in Their Footsteps: Visiting Places Where Your Ancestors Lived and Worked [Short-talk]
Previous Speaking Engagements Pinellas Genealogy Society
Imperial Polk Genealogical Society
Suncoast Genealogy Society
Pasco County Genealogical Society
Clearwater Public Library System
Dunedin Public Library
Genealogical Society of Sarasota
Barbara S. Ponce Public Library
East Lake Community Library
South Bay Genealogical Society
