Cost and Registration Information
Early Registration Price (by May 19): $20 per session; $70 for a single day; $200 for all three days
Regular Price (after May 19): $22 per session; $77 for a single day; $220 for all three days
PLEASE NOTE: The order that these session are being offered in has changed from what was listed in the brochure. Please check the time and date of your desired class closely. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Click here to register for ALL sessions
Click here to register for Day 1 (sessions 1 - 4)
Click here to register for Day 2 (sessions 5 - 8)
Click here to register for Day 3 (sessions 9 - 12)
Scroll down to register for individual sessions.
Seminar Description
Sometimes 60 minutes of instruction on a focused topic can help you push through a particular question or task in your genealogical research project. Take all twelve sessions, or simply those that most appeal to you.
Session 1: Brick Wall Solutions: Forensic Techniques with Marsha Peterson-Maass
June 17, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Let’s break through your research brick walls with forensic genealogy techniques including analyzing photos’ subject matter and paper, using spreadsheets, and accessing databases.
Click here to register for Session 1
Session 2: Brick Wall Solutions: Proven Genealogical Methodology with Marsha Peterson-Maass
June 17, 11 am - noon
Our second brick walls seminar will examine proven genealogical methods and review case studies for crowdsourcing, swapping, FAN technique, genealogy coaching, and more.
Click here to register for Session 2
Session 3: Maps and Land Records with Becky Lowery
June 17, 1 - 2 pm
Where your ancestors lived tells us much about them. Rural or urban? Neighbors and businesses nearby? Owners or renters? Moving or settled? All help you understand them better. This seminar will help you uncover information about your ancestors’ place in the world.
Click here to register for Session 3
Session 4: Newberry's ChicagoAncestors.org + Atlas of Historical County Boundaries with Becky Lowery
June 17, 2:30 - 3:30 pm
In this "60 Minutes" seminar, we will work with two online resources created by the Newberry Library’s Genealogy and Local History department that can provide new a dimension to your family and local research: the spatial dimension. We will demonstrate both websites and answer your questions.
Click here to register for Session 4
Session 5: Brick Wall Solutions: Internet Genealogy Tools with Marsha Peterson-Maass
June 24, 9:30 - 10:30 am
In our third brick walls session we will focus on the latest internet genealogy tools including digitized newspapers, Facebook, online military resources, “hidden repositories,” FamilySearch, and Ancestry’s free tools.
Click here to register for Session 5
Session 6: FamilySearch Primer with Caron Primas Brennan
June 24, 11 am - noon
In this "60 Minutes" seminar, we will review the free FamilySearch.org website and its Family Tree capability.
Click here to register for Session 6
Session 7: Ancestry.com Primer with Caron Primas Brennan
June 24, 1 - 2 pm
In this "60 Minutes" seminar, we will review the resources on Ancestry.com, both library and subscription versions, and its DNA and Ancestry Trees features.
Click here to register for Session 7
Session 8: How I Use DNA in My Genealogy Research with Caron Primas Brennan
June 24, 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Interested in DNA testing, but want to know more before you commit? Trying to decide if you should be DNA tested for genealogical purposes? In this session we will discuss a few case studies to help you decide.
Click here to register for Session 8
Session 9: Who’s Been Living in My House? with Grace Dumelle
July 15, 9:30 - 10:30 am
This "60 Minutes" seminar will go over sources and genealogical techniques for learning about the past owners/residents of your Chicago home. Addresses must be within city limits; no suburbs will be covered.
Click here to register for Session 9
Session 10: Tools to Dig Deeper: Probate and Inquest Records with Grace Dumelle
July 15, 11 am - noon
In this "60 Minutes" seminar, we will use tools to get a fuller picture of whom and what your ancestors left behind with inventories and other court records. Investigate an accidental or criminal death with inquest records.
Click here to register for Session 10
Session 11: Adding Context: Social History for Genealogists with Ginger Frere
July 15, 1 - 2 pm
In this "60 Minutes" seminar, we will explore methods for adding depth and greater human interest to your family stories by including the social context in which they lived.
Click here to register for Session 11
Session 12: How My Grandpappies Made a Living with Ginger Frere
July 15, 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Most of us want to "get to know" our ancestors as much as possible and to understand their lives, and working life is not to be neglected. This seminar will discuss how making a living is an important part of who we are and why we do things.
Click here to register for Session 12
Caron Primas Brennan has been researching her family history since a 6th grade school project got her interested. She is a frequent speaker at local libraries and genealogical societies, a blogger, and a researcher for herself and others. She is a member of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Grace Dumelle, a professional researcher, speaks throughout the Midwest. She wrote the award-winning book, Finding Your Chicago Ancestors.
Ginger Frere, MLIS is a professional researcher and lecturer, specializing in genealogy and local history, and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. Becky Lowery, Reference Librarian at the Newberry Library, previously served as Map and Data Services Librarian at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has a long term interest in family history, and has working on genealogies of her extended family and friends' families as well. She also has a life-long interest in how to display information in maps to maximize the access of information to users.
Marsha Peterson-Maass is a Forensic Genealogist, author of the Fundamentals of Genealogy® textbook series, and member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has taught numerous seminars at Newberry since 2003.
Materials List
Required:
- There are no required materials for any of the 60 Minutes sessions.
Recommended:
- For the courses led by Marsha Peterson-Mass: Fundamentals of Genealogy®: Basics for Everyone, by Marsha Peterson-Maass.
- For the courses led by Marsha Peterson-Mass: Fundamentals of Genealogy®: Most Helpful Tools You’ve Never Used, by Marsha Peterson-Maass.
- For the courses led by Grace Dumelle: Finding Your Chicago Ancestors: A Beginner’s Guide to Family History in the City and Cook County (Lake Claremont Press, ISBN 1-893121-25-9-51695).
First Readings:
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You do not need to do preparatory work for any of these sessions.
This class is part of the Newberry’s Adult Education Seminars Program. Learn more about our registration procedures.