Lecture Topics
Categories: Census, Immigration, Methodology, Military, Other Records, Preservation, Computers, General, Society Management
For more information or to schedule a lecture or class, call Julie Miller at (303) 469-0724 or e-mail julie@jpmresearch.com
For a list of Julie's upcoming speaking engagements visit the Genealogical Speakers Guild.
CENSUS
Beyond Federal Population Schedules
Census records consist of more than Federal Population Schedules. This lecture explores the “other” census records. Learn about the different types of U.S. census records and how to use these records to advance and enhance your research.
Make the Census Work for You!
Don’t just collect census records, learn how to extract all of the information from them. This lecture will focus on creative techniques for analyzing and evaluating census data to discover more about individuals, families, and the communities in which they lived.Finding Your Ancestors in U.S. Federal Census Records
Although they were never intended for genealogists, census records are one of the most important and widely used genealogical resources. This lecture will focus on U.S. Federal Census population schedules from 1790 to 1930. A review of each census, research methods, and insight into information for each census will be discussed.
IMMIGRATION/MIGRATION
Westward Migration: New England to the Midwest NEW
Follow families as they migrate out of New England and into the opening lands of the new frontier. Discover methods and resources as New England ancestors explore new lands and start new lives.
Using Emigrant Guides for Genealogical Research NEW
Emigrant guides provided essential information and practical advice to our ancestors about travel routes, weather, opportunities, and much more. Learn how to use emigrant guides for insight into the how's and why's of an ancestor's preparation and journey across an ocean or the country.
Alien Registration Records
Alien Registrations contain a wealth of personal information and should not be overlooked when researching immigrant ancestors. This lecture will discuss what Alien Registrations are available, information found in the records, and how to access the records.
Becoming an American: Naturalization Records
The naturalization process in the United States has evolved over two hundred years into what it is today. This lecture will examine the naturalization process through this evolution. It will discuss the records that were generated from the naturalization process, and how to locate those records.
Chasing the Link: Passenger Arrival Lists
More hours are spent in pursuit of finding an immigrant ancestor’s name on a Passenger List than almost any other type of genealogy research. The search can be frustrating as well as time consuming. This lecture will discuss the passenger list records that are available, where to find the records, and how to use them.
Digging Deep into Passenger Arrival Records
This lecture is for those that have some experience in passenger arrival records. There is a quick review of the records and indexes available. This is followed by problem solving and how to do an in-depth analysis of the records.
METHODOLOGY
Would the Real Molly Brown Please Stand Up?
Margaret "Maggie" Tobin was born in Hannibal, Missouri, the daughter of poor Irish immigrants. How did she become "Molly Brown," heroine of the Titanic? This lecture will describe strategies for researching a famous person.
The Five Steps of Genealogical Proof
Genealogical errors and inconsistencies abound today, especially with online data. How can we evaluate the information that we find and the information that we present? This lecture will discuss the Genealogical Proof Standard’s (GPS) five step process and how to use it to measure and evaluate genealogical conclusions.
Lost in Translation: How to Cite Genealogy Sources
Keeping tract of where information is found is a fundamental responsibility of genealogists. How to properly cite sources can often be confusing. This lecture will help to make the citation process simple to understand and easy to apply to all sources used in your genealogical research.
MILITARY
When Grandpa Comes Marching Home Again
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.
When Grandpa Went Off To War: U.S. Military Records
Wars have been a part of American life from the earliest colonial wars up to the present War in Iraq. It is probable that some of your male ancestors participated in one of these wars. This lecture will discuss the military records that are available and how to locate and obtain the records.OTHER RECORDS
Carriers of News and Knowledge: Post Office Records
Post Office Records are full of genealogical riches. This lecture will discuss Post Office records, their contents, and how to access these underutilized records.
Parishes, Priests, and Signs of the Sacred
Catholic Church records can provide information about births, marriages, and deaths for periods
when civil vital records do no exist. They can also establish time and place for an ancestor. This
lecture reviews the different types of Catholic Church records available and how to locate those
records.
Catholic Church Records in the Southeast
Catholic Church records contain a wealth of genealogical information. This lecture discusses the type, content, and location of these records with emphasis on the southeastern United States.
R.I. P. - Cemetery Research
Cemetery records and tombstones are often the cornerstone for our genealogical research. This lecture will discuss how to locate a cemetery and it’s records, the types of records available, and what you can expect to find in the records.
PRESERVATION AND ORGANIZATION
An Organizing Your Genealogy Without Losing Your Mind NEW
Most of us struggle to identify the best system for organizing our genealogy. A system that fits you will reduce the time spent on retrieving information, repeating research, and relocating documents. This lecture will discuss techniques to organize your genealogy so you will spend more time researching and less time reorganizing.
An Ounce of Prevention: Making a Genealogy Disaster Plan
Genealogy documents, photographs, mementoes, and databases are a family’s most prized possessions. They can be lost in an instant in the event of a disaster. This lecture focuses on how to plan before the crisis occurs, so that loss is minimized and your genealogy legacy is preserved for future generations.
TECHNOLOGY
Adding Evernote to Your Genealogy Toolbox NEW
Evernote is free software that helps you to gather, copy, store, and retrieve almost anything. It allows you to
sync the information across all of your devices while storing it in the Cloud. This lecture will show you why so
many genealogists say they can't live without it.
GENERAL
Navigating the NARA Branches
There are thirteen regional branches of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). These branches are located throughout the United States–from Boston on the east coast, to Kansas City in the heartland, to Seattle on the west coast. Learn how to effectively utilize the rich collections of these regional facilities.
Firing Up the Next Generation of Genealogists!
“Where did I came from?”A simple question that can open up a world of exploration and discovery about their roots for our children and grandchildren. This lecture will examine activities, techniques, and resources available to help adults who want to introduce and promote genealogy to the children in their lives.
Building Your Own Reference Library
It is essential that we have some fundamental reference books on hand to effectively conduct genealogical research. Making informed choices when selecting books can be a challenge. This lecture will guide you with criteria and strategies for selecting reference materials customized to your personal needs.
SOCIETY MANAGEMENT
Anatomy of a Successful Meeting
Meetings are an essential part of every society. Meetings that are poorly planned and poorly run waste time and resources. This lecture will discuss how to run an effective and productive meeting.
Teamwork Strategies for Societies
Every society has their own unique combination of individuals with different skills and visions. It takes teamwork to mesh these skills and make a society successful. This lecture will focus on the importance of using teamwork as an effective means to achieving the goals of your society.