We provide:
* research services for local records and off-site record
* mentoring services for beginning genealogists and those with tough research questions
* lectures and classes for genealogists of all levels
Our Mission is:
to adhere to the Genealogical Proof Standard and abide by the Code of Standards of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Board for the Certification of Genealogists.
Description of Services:
One Hour
Presentations
Cemetery & Funeral Home
Research
There is more to cemetery research than online
cemetery sites such as Find A Grave. Learn how to find these other records,
what to do when visiting a cemetery, and how funeral home records can add to
the family story.
Did Your Ancestor Attend
Church? Researching in Religious Records
Church
records can provide names, dates, and relationships about your ancestors. Many
of the records from churches and religious organizations predate civil records
which makes these records a rich source of information about our families. Give
these records a try, even if you think your ancestor did not attend church.
Finding Records to Help
Document Your Farming Ancestor
Up
to about 1870, farming was the number one occupation. You probably have a large
number of farmers in your family. There are many record sets that document our
farming ancestors such as land, tax, and probate records. Newspapers and many
agricultural records can add context to their story.
Fleshing Out Your Family
Using City Directories
City
Directories are a wonderful source to help fill in details of your ancestor’s
life between the census years. City
Directories give information about a resident’s address and occupation but the
directories also have lots of other information. Come hear about how to use the directories to
aid in your research and where to find them in person or online. Remember, even small towns often had
published directories.
Focused Research: Using
Research Plans
Do
you feel like your research just goes in circles, that you keep finding the
same information, or you have brick walls you can't solve? Being focused on your research will bring better results. This can be done by using research
plans. I will explain how to create and use a research plan to help keep you on
focus in your research and get better results.
German Research: Let's Get
Started!
Nearly
50 million Americans have German ancestry. The earliest Germans came in
colonial times. It was land and religious freedom that brought Germans to
America. Yet, it wasn't until 1871 that there was a united Germany. Come hear
how to get started in your German research by learning about sources here in
the U.S. to help bridge you to the German states of your ancestors.
Researching Offline: Using
Archives, Libraries, and Courthouses
Not
everything is found online! Using online sources, you can find which off-line
resources might have the information to help your family research. Then you can
take a road trip or perhaps order the documents directly from them.
Tips for Breaking Brick Walls
Every
genealogist at some time while researching runs up against brick walls. Brick
walls are when a research question such as finding the parents of an ancestor
cannot be answered. There are simple techniques to help break through these
walls. Come learn about those techniques!
What’s the News? Your
Ancestors in Newspapers
Newspapers
are an excellent source of genealogical, social, and historical information
about our families and their communities. Newspapers reveal what was happening
in a time and place—something other records might not tell us. This
presentation will cover newspapers found on free sites and subscription sites.
Research Advice and Custom Research Planning:
Let us review your previous research and help you with future research goals. Minimum 2 hours.
Record Retrieval:
Let us retrieve that vital record, land, or probate record from local government offices, obituaries and other newspaper items from libraries and archives, and other research items from archives. Locations include Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Napa County, and Solano County.
Contact:
Contact us using this link.