Webinar Abstract: Funeral home records can be one of the most valuable genealogical resources for family historians trying to identify the existence of an ancestor. Funeral homes are generally private businesses, therefore, they are under no obligation to provide information to the public. Even with this obstacle their records can often be accessed for family history/genealogy research. Knowing where to look and understanding the laws of the state where you are researching is the key to success. Learn what funeral home records contain and how they vary by location, funeral home, time period, culture and religion. Today some funeral home records include occupation, military service, the name of the minister and church. Learn about possible websites, manuscript collections, libraries and archives that may also hold these records.
Presenter: Deborah A. Abbott, PhD, is a professional genealogist specializing in genealogical methodology, manuscript collections, and African American family research. She is a member of the Cuyahoga County (OH) Archives Commission, the Lakeview Cemetery Community Outreach Committee (Cleveland, OH), 1st vice president of the African American Genealogical Society, Cleveland, Ohio, and a retired professor of Counseling from Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. She holds both the BS and MEd degrees from Tuskegee University and the PhD degree from Kent State University. Dr. Abbott is coordinator of the African American track at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) in Athens, Georgia. She teaches at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) and the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR). Dr. Abbott has had articles published in the Ohio Genealogy News and FamilyTree magazines. She can be found teaching African American genealogy in a segment entitled “Needles & Threads” on Ancestry Academy, an educational video course for Ancestry.com. Dr. Abbott also coordinates the “Genealogy and Family History Clinic” for the Cleveland Public Library. She is a member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Association of Professional Genealogist (APG) and the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG). A Cleveland, Ohio native, Dr. Abbott is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Tuskegee University National Alumni Association, and Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland.
Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_q7h6AKzGTsKUft2u6F6aMw
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