Thank you for joining us for this year’s genealogy event! Depending on your host location, this event may be offered onsite, virtually, or both.

All of the programs listed below are available to view online today (Friday, October 16, 2026) from 12:00 AM until 11:59 PM. Online participants may watch any program at any time during that period. If your host location is offering an onsite event, you may also join other participants there to view the programs together at the scheduled times.

Below you will find today’s program schedule, including descriptions of each presentation and information about our speakers. The programs will not be viewable after the event ends at midnight.

If you have questions about today’s event or have trouble accessing a video, please contact the Sullivan County Public Library by calling (812) 268-4957.

    
Time:
9:30 AM

Length: 80 Minutes 		Unlocking Your Roots: Starting Your Genealogy Journey, Difficulty: Beginner
Barbara Coakley, Genealogy Researcher, Speaker, Author
Learn how to start your genealogy journey or update your skills using a repeatable research process. Begin with what you already know, frame your research question, explore essential records, and organize your discoveries.
     
Time:
11:00 AM

Length: 50 Minutes 		Cluster Research, or Discovering You’re Related to the Whole Block, Difficulty: Intermediate
Jessica M. Trotter, Genealogy Presenter and Researcher
As Aristotle noted, “Man is by nature a social animal” -he has family, society, and throughout history he has moved with them. This session includes tips, tricks, and examples of how researching the neighborhood and other associates of your ancestors can further your own research.
     
Time:
1:00 PM

Length: 50 Minutes 		Building Your Digital Family History Archive, Difficulty: Intermediate
EvaAnne Johnson, Genealogy & Local History Librarian at Wilmette Public Library
While we are researching our family tree, we often collect a lot of digital files - from downloaded records and emailed documents to scanned photographs and mobile screenshots. What should we do with all these digital files, and how can we keep them organized? This presentation will cover the basics of digital preservation and outline practical steps for creating a well-structured Digital Family History Archive to safeguard your genealogy work.
     
Time:
2:00 PM

Length: 50 Minutes 		Researching Your Revolutionary War Soldier: A Case Study, Difficulty: Intermediate
Craig R. Scott, CG, FUGA, President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc.
A Revolutionary War ancestor can be a goldmine of information if you know where to look. This lecture aims to examine types of service, compiled military service records, pension applications, settled accounts, and where other documents can be found using a step-by-step methodology in a case study.
     
This event was cosponsored by: