Thank you for joining us for this year’s genealogy event! This year, this event is being held virtually. Today’s programs are only available today (Friday, October 20, 2023). They will not be viewable after this event. Below, you will find today’s agenda with a description of each of the programs as well as information about each of our speakers. If you have any questions about today’s event, or have trouble accessing a video, please contact the Huntsville Public Library by calling 936-291-5471.
    
Time:
10:30 AM

Length: 75 Minutes 		Genealogy Basics: Start Searching for Your Ancestors Today, Difficulty: Beginner
Irene B Walters, Librarian, Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus in Houston
Need info on the names, dates, and places your family lived? Interested in finding out how to track down your family stories? Come learn the basics you need to get started! Discover the tools available, starting with home sources and continuing with the types of created records that are useful for genealogical research and where they can be found. Also covered will be ways to stay organized by utilizing paper charts and forms or computer software.
  
Time:
1:00 PM

Length: 50 Minutes 		Uncover Your Family’s Story Using the Periodical Source Index (PERSI), Difficulty: Beginner
Elizabeth Hodges, MA, MSLIS, Senior Librarian in the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Recently made free to the public, the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) is the premier subject index for genealogy and local history periodicals, and is produced by the staff of The Genealogy Center. Learn how to make PERSI your new favorite tool in your family history tool box!
  
Time:
1:50 PM

Length: 50 Minutes 		Linking the Generations with Court and Land Records, Difficulty: Intermediate
Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL, The Legal Genealogist Sponsored by Texas Research Ramblers Genealogical Society
It’s the single biggest issue genealogists face: how do we connect one generation to the next with reliable evidence? Vital records are excellent documentation, but they often don’t exist for the time and place we’re researching. We must make sure we’re not simply putting people into family lines because they share the same names. Using court and land records, we can often find the evidence needed to link the generations accurately.
  
Time:
3:00 PM

Length: 50 Minutes 		Placing Your DNA Matches on Your Tree, Difficulty: Intermediate
Ryan Russell, Genetic Genealogist, Open Door Genetics
When you take a DNA test, you'll receive a match list of mostly strangers. Who are these people, and how are you connected? This session discusses strategies for identifying your DNA matches and determining your common ancestors. Whether your goal is to collect more information about your ancestors or break through brick walls on your tree, gaining a better understanding of your DNA matches can lead to new discoveries.
  
This event was cosponsored by: