St. George Utah FamilySearch Center/Classes

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 50%; height: 7em; background: Bisque; border: 4px solid brown; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" No reservations are required. All classes are free to the public. Handouts will NOT be provided in class, please print the handout for the class from the links provided below.
 * The St George FamilySearch Center Offers a Variety of Classes Every Day

Click here for the January Class Schedule
Sometimes our schedules change so please check this site for updates regularly and before you come.
 * }

Ancestry.com

 * This class describes how to obtain a free LDS membership. Main topics include: Home Page navigation, creating and managing trees, importing GEDCOM files, linking people in FamilySearch to Ancestry, attaching hints, merging duplicates and research strategies.
 * Handout: Ancestry Course
 * Handout: Ancestry (Sullivan)
 * Handout: Four Ways to Make Ancestry Work for You (Sullivan)
 * Handout: Researching with Ancestry (Sullivan)
 * Handout: Introduction to Ancestry (Bradford)

Family Tree: Descendancy Research

 * Add new family members to your tree using the Descendancy View in FamilySearch. Learn where to start searching for spouses and children.  Learn how to find, evaluate, and attach sources to find these new relatives.
 * Handout: Using Descendancy in FamilySearch
 * Descendancy Research Presentation (Schaefermeyer)

FamilySearch: Duplicates (Matching and Merging)

 * It might be exciting to find your great-grandmother in FamilySearch Family Tree. But what about finding her four times—each record with a little different information?


 * Duplication can feel bewildering and frustrating. And yet finding an ancestor more than once in Family Tree is a fairly common occurrence. The reason for these duplicates (the term used when there are multiple records for the same individual) is because information in the tree comes from a variety of sources and because users can enter their own information directly into the tree. This class will teach you how to use FamilySearch features to resolve these duplications.
 * Handout: Matching and Merging Duplicates
 * Handout: Finding and Merging Duplicates in Family Tree (Montague)
 * Handout: FamilySearch Duplicates (Bradford)
 * Presentation from BYU Family History Library (Kathryn Grant)
 * Presentation - Duplicates (Schaefermeyer)

FamilySearch: Record Hints and Sourcing

 * If you’ve poked around on your family tree on FamilySearch.org, you may have seen little blue boxes to the right of some of the names of people on your tree or in a Research Help box on the top right side of the individual screen. These blue boxes indicate there are record hints, which are shortcuts designed to help you find information about your family as painlessly as possible. FamilySearch is constantly scouring their digitized, indexed records to identify records that may match your family and these blue boxes signal to you that they might have succeeded. Linked to actual records that may include your family, these little hints can make a big difference on your family tree.
 * Handout: Record Hints and Sourcing (Pearson)
 * Handout: Record Hints and Sources (Sewell)
 * Handout: Sourcing and Record Hints (Schaefermeyer)
 * Handout: Hints and Sources (Bradford)

FamilySearch: Memories

 * Learn how to upload and tag pictures, stories, documents and audio files using the FamilySearch Memories feature.
 * Handout: FamilySearch Memories
 * Handout: Memories (Montague)
 * Handout: FamilySearch-Memories (Bradford)
 * Video - Adding Photos (FamilySearch)
 * Handout: Adding Photos (FamilySearch)

FamilySearch: Memories - Stories Workshop

 * In this class we will discuss the value of sharing family stories. We will explore and discover stories; our own and our ancestors.  We will create a short memory (story) and learn how to attach a picture.
 * Handout: Stories Workshop (Bradford)

FamilySearch: Navigation

 * The following topics are discussed:


 * Personal settings: Account, Contact, Notifications, Preferences
 * Home page: Recent Ancestors, To-Do Lists, Quick Links to Partner Sites, Messages, Get Help, Indexing, Temple
 * Features:Pedigree Views, Summary Card, Person Details, Memories, Find, Lists, What’s New, Record Hints, Research Suggestions, Data Problems, Lightbulb tips.
 * Memories: Gallery of Photos, Documents, Stories, Audio
 * Search: Historical Record Collections, Genealogies, Catalog, Books, Wiki
 * Handout: Navigation (Blake)
 * Handout: FamilySearch - Navigation (Bradford)

findmypast.com

 * Learn how the features of this family history program. Findmypast has the largest collection of UK and Irish Parish records. They have the largest British and Irish newspaper collection and most comprehensive British military service record collection.  Findmypast is a FamilySearch partner.
 * Presentation: FindMyPast (Orman)
 * Presentation: FindMyPast (Schaefermeyer)

Getting Started - Where Do I Begin

 * Learn how to gather information from home, interview parents and relatives to get information about your ancestors and enter it into FamilySearch.
 * Handout: FamilySearch Getting Started (Bradford)
 * Handout: Where Do I Begin? (Schaefermeyer)

Web Indexing

 * Learn the ins and outs of how to be a successful web indexer.
 * Handout: Web Indexing
 * Handout: Web Indexing (Montague)

My Heritage.com

 * MyHeritage is an online genealogy platform with web, mobile, and software products and services. Users of the platform can create family trees, upload and browse through photos, and search billions of global historical records, among other features.
 * handout: My Heritage (Orman)

Research Strategies

 * The following topics are discussed:


 * Attaching sources using “Record Hints”.
 * Searching with the FamilySearch search engine.
 * Finding records including the “Browse Only” records.
 * Using records in Ancestry.com.
 * Handout: Basic Research (staff)

Attaching Documents As Sources

 * Handout: Attaching Documents as Sources (FamilySearch)

British Research (1837-Present)

 * The first effective census for researchers occurred in 1841 with the most recently released being 1911. Finding ancestors in households, with siblings and parents creates a snapshot in time, and opens up other avenues of family history research to family members.


 * In recognizing the need for more accurate record keeping, the government began Civil Registration on July 1, 1837. The records of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales are available to everyone and a valuable resource for that time period.
 * Handout: England & Wales–Census & Civil Registration Records (McKinstry)
 * Handout: British Isles Research (Orman)
 * Handout: British Isles Research (Hammons)
 * Handout: British Research 1837-Present (Bradford)

England & Wales – Records of the Church and Their Poor (Pre-1837)

 * (Beginner/Intermediate)
 * The Church of England and Wales, as the governing body for centuries, not only recorded parishioners’ life events but managed their affairs. They maintained the roads, paid the bell ringer and supplied spiritual guidance. One of their most enduring works was to serve the poor. Apprenticeship records, bastardy bonds and settlement/removal papers aid in identifying family lines accurately.
 * Handout: Records of the Church & Their Poor (Pre-1837) (McKinstry)
 * British Research Handout Pre-1837 (Bradford)

Crossing the Pond

 * This presentation will give you research strategies on what records are available, and where to find those records. Locate where your ancestors came from, how they traveled to America, where they settled and how to locate Naturalization records.
 * Handout: Crossing the Pond (Orman)
 * Handout: Immigration-Crossing the Pond (Hammons)
 * Handout: Immigration Quick Sheet (Hammons)

Danish Research

 * The following topics are discussed:
 * Patronymic naming -- Danish Counties and Parishes -- How to read Danish Parish Records -- How to find names using Danish URL sites.
 * Handout: Denmark Class (Petersen)
 * Handout: Danish Research Log (Petersen)

German, Swiss, Italian, Polish Research

 * (Campbell)

Hispanic Research

 * (Ellsworth)

Irish: America to Ireland

 * This class provides a step-by-step process for researching the family of 42-year old Hugh Brady who immigrated to the United States in 1899 from Leitrim, Ireland. During the class you will learn how to use most of the major web sites available for researching your Irish ancestors.
 * Handout: Irish Research (Bradford)

Irish Research

 * It is not true that all the records of Ireland were destroyed. Civil Registration (1845-present), Census records (1901 & 1911) and Church records (pre-1845) can aid in your Ireland research. Understanding jurisdictions, immigration patterns and land records will enable you to locate your family and be proud of your Irish heritage.
 * Handout: Finding Irish Ancestors–19th & 20th Centuries (McKinstry)

New England Research

 * This class is helpful for those researching ancestors from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and New York.
 * Handout: New England Research (Hammons)

Pacific Isle Research

 * (Au Quin)

Scotland Research

 * (Beginner/Intermediate) A safe and very reasonably priced pay-as-you-go web site, “ScotlandsPeople” is one of the largest online sources of original, digitized records. From census records to civil registration, old parochial & Catholic registers, wills, valuation rolls and military records, it is a treasure trove of affordable discoveries for anyone researching in Scotland either in the past or in the present.
 * Handout: Scotland’s People – The Ultimate Research Web Site (McKinstry)

Swedish Research

 * (Montague)

American Ancestors - FamilySearch Center Premium Site
American Ancestors is a FamilySearch Premium Website that contains collections from the 17th century colonial New England to the 20th century. This site is an online repository, not limited to to New England, for more than 1 billion searchable names from America and beyond. The class will help you unlock this valuable resource. (American Ancestors can be accessed FREE at the St. George FamilySearch Center; otherwise, this is a paid subscription site for at home use.)
 * Handout: American Ancestors - Premium Site (Hammons)

Breaking Brick Walls

 * At some point, every family historian encounters a barrier in their genealogy research. These barriers are known as brick walls and they can often appear impossible to work around. This class will give you ideas and resources to help you up and over your brick wall.
 * Handout: Breaking Brick Walls (Hammons)

Census Records: Getting to Know about Your Family in the Federal Census

 * Discover how to find information in census records about you relatives. Learn how to locate, compare and find facts about names, marriages, home addresses, moves, children, occupations, siblings and parents, education level, grandchildren, birth dates, maiden names, property ownership and assets, new spouses, relatives next door, farms and more.
 * Handout: Census Research (Sullivan)
 * Handout: Census Quick Sheet (Hammons) (Orman)

City Directories

 * (Ellsworth) (Sullivan)

Cyber Security

 * Learn about protecting your home's computer connection to the Internet.
 * Cyber Security - Part 1 (Orman)

Ancestry DNA/Gedmatch Basics

 * You take an Ancestry DNA test, now what do you do with your results? This class will explore step by step navigation and interpretation of your test, through the DNA section of your Ancestry account. It will then show you how to move your Ancestry DNA data over to Gedmatch, a third party database, to identify more possible matches.
 * To learn more about the specifics of DNA, click this link to the FamilySearch Research WIKI - About DNA
 * (Bottino)

Family History Guide
(tba)
 * Spanish version Handout: Family History Guide-Spanish (Ellsworth)

FamilySearch Apps

 * Many individuals equate genealogy with names, dates, and dusty old records. That can be part of it, but the worth of memories (pictures, stories, audio and video) is much greater. The free FamilySearch Memories app helps users capture family memories, photos and even conversations.
 * Handout: FamilySearch Memories App
 * Handout: Family History on Your Tablet

FamilySearch: Games and Activities

 * This class teaches simple family history games and activities available online. What a fun way to make a boring subject fun and exciting. Most of the games require a FamilySearch account and at least 30 ancestors in your family tree.
 * Handout: No Time to Prepare Games and Activities (Merrell)

FamilySearch WIKI

 * The FamilySearch Wiki is a tool, not only for guiding your research through a specific location, but it will help you locate vital records, give you links to free online website, help you find unique collections for your particular location, link you to free record collections, and much much more.
 * Handout: FamilySearch WIKI (Hammons)
 * Handout: FamilySearch WIKI - Why You Should Use It (Hammons)

Find a Grave

 * The following topics are discussed: Brief History of Find A Grave -- How to do the searches -- How to contribute information -- How to create a memorial page
 * 
 * Handout: FindAGrave (Bradford)

Finding An Ancestor to Take to the Temple

 * Learn to use at least one of these search programs -- Find-A-Record, Puzilla, Hope Chest, Wooden Village, BYU Virtual Pedigree, and FamilySearch Descendancy -- to find ancestors who are prepared to go to the Temple.
 * Presentation: Find A Name (Orman)

Geneanet - A FamilySearch Partner Europe Research Site

 * Did you know that FamilySearch has a new partner, Geneanet? Along with Ancestry, FindMyPast, American Ancestors, and My Heritage, you can now sign up for Geneanet and access their vast genealogical library. Why would you want to add another partner? Hidden in the thousands of books and newspapers digitized byGeneanet might be just the clue you need.


 * Geneanet is a Europe-based genealogy research service headquartered in France. Launched in 1996 specifically to help family historians search for and share relevant information, the website has had over a decade to accumulate submitted data and add that to its small but formidable archive of records. The active Geneanet member has shared over 400 million individual names with familial connections through their created family trees; this activity is, of course, bolstered by Geneanet’s hundreds of thousands of digitized historical records, registers, books and photos. Though some records and search options are marked for premium-only access, it’s worth noting that it’s entirely possible to maintain a useful Geneanet member account for free, forever.
 * (Campbell)

Google and Internet Research

 * The Internet is a source rich with Family History content, and much of that content is not on FamilySearch or Ancestry. This class will help you harness that power by showing you how to use the Internet safely and effectively. You will be shown other search engines, but most features will be shown using Google Tools for Genealogy, which are powerful and free.
 * Handout: Google & Internet Searches 2018 (Hammons)
 * Handout: Google Quick Sheet 2018 (Hammons)
 * Handout: Google Earth (Hammons)
 * Handout: Google for Family History Research (Schaefermeyer)

Land and Probate Records

 * Why Land and Probate? These records are called the backbone of Genealogical Research because they apply to more people in America than any other record [including the census]. The are findable, readable and there is a county wide index from the 1600's. They are the most re-created record in the case of a court house being burned. They lead also lead you to other records. Land and probate records can be valuable in other countries.
 * Handout: Land and Probate Records (Hammons)
 * Presentation: Land and Probate (Sullivan)

Logs and Timelines

 * Logs and Timelines are two of your best tools for Family History Research. A research log helps your organize and track your work, and prevents duplication of your resources. A timeline puts your ancestor in context, helps you spot problems and gaps in your research and helps identify where you need to search next. This class will help you learn how to create, store and use these great genealogy tools.
 * Handout: Logs and Timelines (Hammons)

Memories and Stories Workshop

 * In this class, we will discuss the value of sharing family stories. We will explore and discover stories; our own and our ancestors.  We will create a short memory (story) and learn how to attach a picture.
 * Handout: Family Tree Memories: Stories Workshop (D Bradford)

Military Records

 * Military records can often provide valuable information on the veteran, as well as on all members of the family. This class provides you with many websites to help you successfully search military records
 * Handout: Military Records (Stingel)
 * Handout: US Military Records (R Montague)

Online Libraries

 * Digital libraries give family history researchers access to books, wills, stories, pictures, and audio files that have been elusive because of their physical location at a physical library. Digitizing books and library collections makes volumes of information available to all by using various online library sources.  Come learn how to find, access, download and use these valuable new resources.
 * Using Online Books for Family History Research (Schaefermeyer)
 * Handout: Using Free Online Archives and Libraries for Family History (Hammons)

Online Newspapers

 * (Ellsworth) (Sullivan)

Passwords: Making Them Secure

 * (Orman)

Photo Editing

 * (Orman)

Publishing Your Biographies

 * Our expert instructor will teach you how to publish their biographies on Create Space, which is a sister company to Amazon. Publishing on Create Space is free. Examples will be presented.
 * (Clarke)

Puzzilla

 * Discover a free versatile and powerful tool that helps you find the holes in your family tree so you can focus your research on finding those missing ancestors. The premium version helps you extend your search parameters, keeps a log of ancestors who need ordinance work, and researches sources and ancestors with possible duplicates.
 * (Armstrong)

Unindexed Records

 * (Campbell) (Ellsworth)

Vital Records Online

 * (Sewell)

Why Do Family Historians Need A Proof Standard?

 * Research Article on Proof Standard

Wooden Village

 * Wooden Village is the newest website tool that can help you find names of relatives in need of ordinances. It contains several apps that assist in finding sources, possible duplicates, data problems, and ancestors with missing spouses or children.
 * Handout: Wooden Village (Sullivan)

Writing Your Family History

 * Learn the most important elements of writing and make your ancestors come alive on paper. Make your family legacy something your children will remember. Do your children know their heritage? What are your traditions? Each of us has a story from our ancestors or even our own story to tell. Your children need to know their grandparents. It's up to us to write these experiences down.
 * (Clarke)

Modified 01/11/2019 by Ronda Simmons