Poolside Chats

Poolside Chats: A Genealogy Webinar Series

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.

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.

Past Webinars

Analyze This! Scrutinizing Evidence for Problem Solving

Analyze This! Scrutinizing Evidence for Problem Solving

By Victor Dunn | August 15, 2019
Learn the methodology astute genealogist use to break-down brick walls. Focus on the tools that successful researchers use to analyze evidence such as document abstraction, timelines, and spreadsheet filters. Discusses the use of the law, geography and migration patterns as aids in problem solving as well as the importance of reasonable exhaustive research by incorporating collateral relative and associates. Resolution of conflicting data is also discussed.

Victor S. “Vic” Dunn, CG, is a full-time professional researcher. The coordinator for the Virginia track at the IGHR and an instructor for SLIG, he is a frequent contributor to major genealogical publications including feature articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, The Genealogist, NEHG Register, BCG OnBoard, and Magazine of Virginia Genealogy.

Anatomy of a Civil War Pension File

Anatomy of a Civil War Pension File

By Julie Potter Miller | July 18, 2019
Civil War Pension Files are filled with genealogical information but are often large and intimidating. This lecture will discuss methods used to organize, extract, and analyze the documents and data in a Civil War Pension File.

Julie Miller, CG®, CGLSM, FNGS is a full-time professional researcher, speaker, and writer who lives in Colorado. She speaks on a wide variety of genealogy subjects both locally and nationally. Her articles have appeared in the NGSQ and NGS Magazine. Julie is a member of the NGS conference committee, served as conference chair of the 2010 and 2012 NGS conferences, and served on the NGS board from 2006-2014. She is a fellow of the National Genealogical Society. Julie has been a volunteer at NARA-Denver for over twenty years.

Evidence Correlation: Making the Most of Your Research

Evidence Correlation: Making the Most of Your Research

By Nancy A. Peters | June 20, 2019
Evidence correlation—an essential element of the Genealogical Proof Standard—lets you see patterns, connections, and inconsistencies in your research. Through case examples, this lecture teaches strategies for correlating evidence that will help you maximize the value of information collected during your research and lead to sound genealogical conclusions.

Nancy A. Peters, CG®, CGLSM works as a full-time researcher, editor, author, and lecturer specializing in genealogical problem solving and methodology. She serves as a trustee for the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Nancy is incoming coeditor of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly in 2019.

Abstracts, Extracts and Transcriptions – What’s the Difference?

Abstracts, Extracts and Transcriptions – What’s the Difference?

By Diana Crisman Smith | May 16, 2019
Documents often can, should, or might be included in your documentation. However, the reality is that photocopies (or digital copies) may be unavailable due to a number of factors. The other reality, however, is that part of the document can, should, or might be included in your documentation. There are essentially three ways to convert an original document by note-taking without photocopying: transcribing, abstracting or extracting. Learn when and how to use each method.

Diana Crisman Smith began researching her ancestry at age eleven. She has been working with clients for nearly twenty years, as well as teaching and presenting to a variety of organizations across the US (and at sea). She has written for print and online publications, presented to groups large and small in person and via webinars. Her perspective is flavored by her background as a trained and licensed teacher, a professional secretary, her involvement over the years with the development of computer and Internet technology, and (of course) her interest in history.

The Discriminating Genealogist: Telling Good Evidence from Bad

The Discriminating Genealogist: Telling Good Evidence from Bad

By Judy G. Russell | April 25, 2019
The “best evidence” rule in law requires the presentation in court of an original rather than a copy, and a copy won’t even be admitted if the original is available. In genealogy, our rules require us to do the same: to discriminate, choose in favor of, prefer certain types of evidence to others, certain bits of information to others, certain sources to others. That sounds right, but just how do we do that? What are the rules we follow, what do we need to know to do this right, and what tools are available to help us? Those are the focus of this presentation.

The Legal Genealogist Judy G. Russell is a genealogist with a law degree who writes and lectures on topics ranging from using court records in family history to understanding DNA testing. On the faculty of numerous genealogy institutes, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Board for Certification of Genealogists®, from which she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer℠. Her award-winning blog is at http://www.legalgenealogist.com.

The Everyday Life of Our Ancestors

The Everyday Life of Our Ancestors

By C. Ann Staley | March 21, 2019
Our ancestors led lives, just like us – only different. Using our life as an example, how can we parallel it to theirs? They ate and drank, married and had families, dressed, had trades and occupations, practiced a religion, dabbled in the arts and sciences, participated in politics and economics, etc. This lecture will examine the various aspects of life and provide resources to discover the historical context and personal details of our ancestors’ lives.

C. Ann Staley, CG®, CGLSM, is an educator, consultant, and co-leader of Ann-Mar Genealogy Trips. She is the Education Chair for the Jacksonville Genealogical Society, Inc.; the Vice President of the Genealogical Speakers Guild; on the faculty of The National Institute for Genealogical Studies; and a Director of the Florida State Genealogical Society.

The Great Migration: Tracking African Americans to Northern Industrial Cities

The Great Migration: Tracking African Americans to Northern Industrial Cities

By Ari Wilkins | February 21, 2019
Between 1910-1930, droves of African-Americans left the South for new opportunities in the North. Learn how to track your migrating ancestor using genealogical sources.

Ari Wilkins is a genealogist and library associate at Dallas Public Library, where she provides genealogy programming and education. She worked with the esteemed genealogist, Dr. James Rose on his project, “Generations: The WPA Ex-Slave Narrative Database.” Ms. Wilkins has spoken nationally at the National Genealogical Society, Federation of Genealogical Societies, RootsTech, Texas State Genealogical Society, Ohio Genealogical Society, the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research, American Library Association, and a multitude of local societies. Ari has concentrated her interests in North Carolina and Louisiana research and specializes in African American genealogy and research.

Hidden Gems of Jewish Genealogy

Hidden Gems of Jewish Genealogy

By Marlis Humphrey | January 17, 2019
Jewish genealogy has many challenges but also a growing arsenal of special resources tuned to discovering Jewish ancestors that are available online. Jewish genealogy requires tools to overcome the challenges of doing research in multiple languages, with complicated naming conventions, and in locales which had been under often changing sovereignty. Some of these research resources are well known or easily discoverable – but many are not so obvious. This presentation is not a step-by-step “how to”, but instead will showcase more than a dozen resources that are “hidden gems” of Jewish genealogy. When we research our family history, we often get into a familiar pattern of looking for records in the same places and using the same methods. Whether an experienced researcher or one who is just starting the search for Jewish ancestors, you will find something(s) to aid your explorations – research resources that you may never have heard of or may have forgotten.

Marlis Humphrey is President of the Florida State Genealogical Society (FSGS) and immediate Past President of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS). She served as co-chair of IAJGS Boston 2013 conference and is a worldwide renowned lecturer, and professional genealogist.

Disaster Planning for the Genealogist: Safeguarding Your Genealogical Records

Disaster Planning for the Genealogist: Safeguarding Your Genealogical Records

By Melissa Barker | December 20, 2018
Natural disasters and man-made disasters happen all the time. Are your genealogical records stored and archived in such a way that they will survive through a disaster? Learn from an archivist how to come up with your own disaster plan and safeguard your genealogical records from destruction.

Melissa Barker is a Certified Archives Records Manager currently working as the Houston County, Tennessee Archivist. She is also a Professional Genealogist and lectures, teaches and writes about the genealogy research process, researching in archives and records preservation.