Poolside Chats: A Genealogy Webinar Series - Florida State Genealogical Society

The "Poolside Chats: A Genealogy Webinar Series" is organized by the Technology-Outreach Committee and presented to the FSGS membership and the public on a monthly basis. We have had webinars on topics such as DNA in genealogy, cloud-based technology, Florida territorial records, and everything in between - and we are just getting started.

Genealogy education today can be accomplished in a number of mediums, webinars being one of them. This educational opportunity can provide you with information about resources, new technology and its relationship with genealogy, methodology, new websites and new databases coming online, and much more.

All you need to participate is a computer with speakers and a connection to the internet. So, we invite you to sit back and enjoy the presentations being brought to you by knowledgeable presenters and made possible through your membership dues.

All webinars start at 8 PM ET unless otherwise noted.

Murder in the Mountains: Grandpa’s Birth Father in Court Records: DNA Case – September 18, 2025

By Kate Penney Howard

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Obituaries and Other Death Information in Newspapers – October 16, 2025

By Annette B. Lyttle

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Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools for Land Records Analysis – November 20, 2025

By David M McCorkle

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Did My Family Get Skipped? Mining Census Records for Missing Ancestors – December 18, 2025

By Nicole Gilkison LaRue, CG

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Past Webinars

Genetic Genealogy: Advanced

By Diahan Southard | March 15, 2018

Have you mastered the basics of autosomal DNA testing? There are several advanced tools that can help you glean more information from your DNA test.

A microbiology graduate, Diahan Southard has spent 16 years in the genetic genealogy industry. In her current position as Your DNA Guide, she provides personalized, interactive experiences to assist individuals and families in interpreting their genetic results in the context of their genealogical information.

Read ‘Em or Weep: Promise and Pitfalls in Newspaper OCR

By Mary Kircher Roddy | January 18, 2018

Learn where to find free and pay newspaper sites online. Understand how to put OCR mistakes to work for you to increase search results. See a method to make sure you do thorough searching in every newspaper every time.

Mary Roddy, a Certified Public Accountant, earned a certificate from the Genealogy and Family History program at the University of Washington. She speaks frequently in the Western Washington area and at regional and national conferences.

Chancery Records: The Secrets They Hold, The Families They Reveal

By Barbara Vines Little | December 21, 2017

How to locate and work with Chancery records, which often include evidence of migration, descriptions of multiple generations of family members, details of family life.

Barbara Vines Little, CGSM, FNGS, FVGS

Civil War Medical Records

By Craig R. Scott | November 6, 2017

A primer on how to locate Civil War medical records.

Craig is the President & CEO of Heritage Books, Inc. a genealogical publishing firm with over 5,100 titles in print. A professional genealogical and historical researcher for more than twenty-eight years, he specializes in the records of the National Archives, especially those that relate to the military.

Reverse Engineer a Genie Book: Creating Narrative from Evidence in Documents

By Anita R. Henderson | October 19, 2017

When you’re ready to write the stories of your ancestors, where do you begin? Most researchers start with the research itself. Sounds good, but that approach can be intimidating. After all, you have multiple binders and years of research under your belt. Where do you begin? How do you choose among all of your findings to tell a good story? In this session, you’ll learn a different approach to genealogy writing. By reverse engineering your genealogy book, you’ll be sure to:
write for the right audience
tell relevant stories
use only the necessary evidence to support your story
accomplish the goal you envision
Learn a proven technique to write an engaging genealogy book that appeals to non-genealogists. Explore three books written by researchers just like you to uncover how these authors used this reverse engineer practice and turned evidence into creative prose for their books.

A Day Out With Your DNA

By Diahan Southard | September 21, 2017

While DNA testing for genealogy is no longer a new idea, many companies are offering a new way to look at your DNA. In this lecture we will cover the biggest and brightest options, and help you decide where you should take your DNA, and how to make the most of it.

After getting bitten by the DNA bug as a high school student, Diahan went on to study at Brigham Young University where she earned a bachelors degree in microbiology. She worked before and after graduation for the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, one of the first efforts to create a correlated genetic and genealogical database.

Strategies for Adoption Research and Finding Other Missing Persons

By Connie Lenzen | July 20, 2017

Adoption touches many families. The search to reunite birth parents and birth children utilizes all research strategies. These same strategies are used to find relatives who have come up missing.

Connie is a full-time professional genealogist, author, and teacher. She is the author of the Oregon Guide to Genealogical Resources and a contributing author to national and local genealogical publications. She lectures at local, state, regional, and national conferences.

Gone to Florida! Tracking Migrants from Antebellum South Carolina

By Nancy A. Peters | June 15, 2017

Tracing ancestors who moved can be difficult, especially in southern states with burned counties. Learn methods and sources for tracking migrants from antebellum South Carolina to Florida. This session explores the historic context for migration in the territorial and early statehood period and describes the steps used in cluster research into ancestors who moved. A case study shows how cluster research helped find the origin of a South Carolinian who came to Alachua County in the 1840s when no known record provides his exact place of birth or names his parents.

Nancy A. Peters, CG, is a full-time genealogist living in South Carolina. She serves as a trustee of the Board for Certification of Genealogists and as the editor of BCG’s OnBoard newsletter.

After You’re Gone: Future Proofing Your Genealogy Research

By Thomas MacEntee | May 18, 2017

Have you ever considered what will happen to your years of genealogy research once you’re gone? Learn how to ensure that your hard work carries on. Through a combination of planning, common sense, and new technologies, we’ll review how to create an action plan for preserving your genealogy research.

Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community. He is a blogger, educator, author, social media connector, online community builder and more.

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