FamilySearch.org offers FREE classes

The classes are -

07 February 2015 Registros civiles y censos. This class provides instructions on how to use Spanish civil registers and census records. It is for Spanish-speaking guests and is taught in Spanish. Class starts at 1:00 p.m.

21 February 2015 * Boy Scout Genealogy Merit Badge Workshop. This workshop begins at 10:00 a.m. Register for this 90-minute class at least one week prior to the workshop to find out which requirements should be completed before attending. For registration information, call 1-801-240-4673.

21 February 2015 Qué dice? Cόmo leer la escritura antigua. This class provides tips and guidelines for reading old Spanish handwriting. It is for Spanish-speaking guests and is taught in Spanish. Class starts at 1:00 p.m.

26 February 2015 FamilySearch Historical Records Collection Webinar. This class begins at 6:00 p.m. It provides an overview of what the FamilySearch Historical Records Collection has to offer researchers and some tips on how to get the most from your searches.

28 February 2015 * British Research Series. These classes include “British Resources on FamilySearch.org,” and “British Resources on Ancestry.com.” Classes run from 9:15 a.m. to noon.

28 February 2015 * German Research Series. These classes include “Learning to Read Old German Script” (2 hours) and “Extracting Information from German Church and Civil Records.” Classes run from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

28 February 2015 African-American Research Series. The topics include “Keynote Speaker,” “Beginning African-American Research: Post 1865,” and “Southern Plantation Records.” Classes run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

These classes and workshops are designed to help individuals and families find their ancestors and teach others family history techniques. I have already put into my calendar FamilySearch Historical Records Collection Webinar.

How about you?

* Registration is required for classes with an asterisk. Register by 9:00 p.m. the Thursday before the class date by sending an email to FHLClassReg@familysearch.org or calling 1-801-240-4950. Go to https://familysearch.org/locations/saltlakecity-library for additional information.

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If you haven’t done so already, remember to check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed this week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/canadian-week-in-review-26-january-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

It has been a regular post every Monday morning since April 23, 2012.

Saskatchewan Genealogical Society (SGS) is offering courses

Do you know that the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society (SGS) is offering certificates in the following areas of study?

Saskatchewan Record Searcher Certification Course

This course instructs you on how to conduct a search of the basic Saskatchewan sources, to write a documented research report, and conduct your business in an ethical manner.

Saskatchewan Researcher Certificate Course

This certification qualifies you to analyze genealogical research problems, to conduct research in all records sources in Saskatchewan, write well-documented research reports, and conduct your business in an ethical manner.

Instructors Certification Course

This certification qualifies you to teach basic genealogical methodology.

Aboriginal Researcher Certification Course

This course, which is divided into ten sessions, will focus on tracing Métis and Aboriginal ancestry on the Prairie Provinces.

If you require information on the following, please phone the office at (306) 780-9207, or go to the website at http://www.saskgenealogy.com/index.php/education/certification-courses/.

If you haven’t done so already, remember to check the Canadian Week in Review every Monday morning for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada.

If you missed last week’s edition, it is at http://genealogycanada.blogspot.com/2015/01/canadian-week-in-review-12-january-2015.html

It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in Canada!

Family History Library Announces Free Classes

We received this email this morning –

The Family History Library Announces Free Classes for November 2014

Nov. 1 Recursos en linea adema̍s de FamilySearch is a class for Spanish-speaking guests and starts at 1:00 p.m. 

Nov. 5-26 Russian Print and Handwriting Series. There are 4 parts to this series of classes, taught every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. 

Nov. 8 Norway Research Series. The classes include “How to Use Church Records in Norway,” “How to Search Death Notices in Norway,” and “Exploring Probate Records in Norway.” These classes run from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. 

Nov. 8 American Indian Series. Classes include: “American Indian Research and the FamilySearch Wiki,” and “American Indian Case Study.” Classes are held at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. 

Nov. 15 Boy Scout Genealogy Merit Badge Workshop. This workshop begins at 10:00 a.m. Register for this 90-minute class at least one week prior to the workshop to find out which requirements should be completed before attending. Email FHLClassReg@familysearch.org 

Nov. 15 ¿Mis antepasados vinieron de . . . ? This class is for Spanish-speaking guests and starts at 1:00 p.m. 

Nov. 15 Reading Spanish Handwriting will be taught at 3:00 p.m. 

*Registration is required for classes with an asterisk. 

Register by 9:00 p.m. the Thursday before the class date by sending an email to FHLClassReg@familysearch.org or calling 1-801-240-4950.

Go to https://familysearch.org/locations/saltlakecity-library for additional information. 

Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/familysearch

Family history courses at the Surrey Library System

The Cloverdale Library (a branch of the Surrey Library System) is having a FREE introduction session called An Introduction to Family History on Sept 13 from 10:30 to noon.

This free session will show participants what's available, where to find it, and how to document your search. Learn some of the tips and tricks that are unique to genealogy research.

There will be workshop in five lessons called Start Searching Your Family History. 

It will be a series of five, three-hour classes, developed by writer and researcher Brenda Smith.

It starts Mondays from Sept. 22 to Nov. 17 (5:30 to 8:30 p.m.), the cost is $100, and participants must commit to all five sessions.

Learn How to Navigate Ancestry and Heritage Quest is a single session scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27 (10:30 a.m. to noon). Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest are free to use for anyone visiting the Cloverdale Library. Find out how these tools work, and how to interpret what you find.

The Cloverdale Library is at 5642 176A Street, Surrey, British Columbia. It is home to one of the largest Canadian family history collections in the country, with extensive resources, programs and expertise.

Register for these programs at 604-4598-7327 or email familyhistory@surrey.ca.

The website for Family History at the Surrey Library System is at http://www.surreylibraries.ca/programs-services/4815.aspx

NIGS appoints a Director of Professional Development

The National Institute for Genealogical Studies (NIGS), the Canadian educational company, announces that Gena Philibert-Ortega has been appointed Director of Professional Development. 

In her new position, Philibert-Ortega will be reviewing, updating and overseeing the addition of courses to the program. 

Louise St Denis, Managing Director of NIGS, comented that "We are excited to have Gena Philibert-Ortega's involvement in our Professional Development program.  Gena has had a successful full-time genealogy career for over 12 years and her experience will assist others as they transition to professional work or continue in their careers." 

Philibert-Ortega said "I'm excited about this opportunity to bring courses designed for 

those interested in professional genealogy. I'm looking forward to continuing to 

grow the program to meet the needs of the genealogy community."

Everyone at The National Institute welcomes Gena Philibert-Ortega to her new 

position and looks forward to the growth of the Professional Development 

Certificate. 

For more information, please visit their site at http://www.genealogicalstudies.com/ 

or call them toll-free in North America at 1-800-580-0165 or email them at

admin@genealogicalstudies.com

Genealogy Classes at Royal Roads University

Dave Obee is teaching two classes at Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC in February, and they are called Discovering Your Family History: An Introduction.

The course description says that “The Internet has made it easy to gather information about family histories, however, it is still important to use proper research techniques to understand the records being consulted and to flesh out the raw details of a family tree with information about the lives of ancestors. Designed for people who have already gathered the basic information on their families, this course stresses the need for research in local history and social history as well and will help participants understand how to use a wide variety of resources and plan further work”.

The courses takes place on the 2nd and 9th of February, and it cost $145 + applicable taxes. The site says it is best to register by Sat, Jan 19th, 2013.

More information is available at http://cstudies.royalroads.ca/courses/PEOI3001-Y12.htm

Richmond Hill Public Library

Richmond Hill Public Library located at the corner of Yonge Street, and Major Mackenzie Drive has a genealogy library on the library’s fourth floor (now known as the Mary-Lou Griffin Room) to house information about Richmond Hill.

They have had public lectures during the winter/spring season called "Finding Our Roots Online", and they have two sessions left -

Googling for Genealogy: How to Take Advantage of all Google has to Offer


Saturday, April 28, 2012, 10:30 - 11:30 AM

Most genealogists know that Google is a good place to start to find family information on the Internet but many don’t know how to get the best results from this search engine nor do they take full advantage of everything else Google has to offer. Author, librarian and genealogist Marian Press will guide you through Google alerts, image searching, Google Maps, Google Books, Google News Archives, Google Blogs, Google translation tools and more

Using Ancestry Library Edition to Find Your Family

Saturday, May 26, 2012, 10:30 - 11:30 AM

Working with the databases and creating a family tree online can make it easy to keep track of your family. We all know Ancestry has the Ontario births, marriages and deaths and some of the census returns but what else is available to help us find our family? Join author, historian and genealogist Ruth Burkholder and find out

Tickets for each program is $5.00 per person.

Interested people are asked to pre-register at the Central Library’s Full Service Desk

The website is at http://www.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca/

Genealogy Courses in Toronto

Gwyneth Pearce of the Toronto Branch of the OGS has just written to GenealogyCanada to tell us that the previously scheduled March/April course, "Going Back to Basics – A Refresher", has been cancelled due to low enrolment.

In addition, their course on "Exploring the Baldwin Room’s Manuscript Collection", which was to be offered in March, has been postponed (new date TBA) due to the Toronto library strike.

The following are courses which are still offered by the Branch. They are -

DATE: 5-19 Apr 2012: 3 sessions, Thursdays (5:30-7:30 p.m.)
COURSE: Toronto Branch OGS
LOCATION: Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian MacDonald Blvd., Toronto
TITLE OF COURSE: "Hands-On Ontario Estate Records"
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: Jane E. MacNamara
BRIEF INFO: Participants will follow assigned case histories to learn hands-on at the Archives of Ontario how to find estate files and land registry records. Basic course or equivalent experience is a pre-requisite. This course is now FULL.

DATE: 18-25 Apr, 2-9 May 2012: 4 sessions, Wednesdays (6:15-8:15 p.m.)
COURSE: Toronto Branch OGS
LOCATION: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto
TITLE OF COURSE: "Advanced English Family History"
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: James F.S. Thomson & Joan Read
BRIEF INFO: This advanced course will focus on the 1700-1837 period – topics will include finding vital events, researching a parish, population listings, inheritance records, poor relief, apprenticeship records and land tenancy records.

DATE: 28 Apr 2012: Saturday (9:00-4:00 p.m.)
COURSE: Toronto Branch OGS
LOCATION: North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street, Toronto
TITLE OF COURSE: "A Day of Technology for Family Historians"
NAME OF INSTRUCTOR: Carol Nichols
BRIEF INFO: Learn how to harness the power of technology in your genealogy – find out how technology can assist family historians in finding and organizing information, and in editing and sharing photographs and other images.
CONTACT INFO: www.torontofamilyhistory.org/

The following is the monthly meeting -

DATE: 23 April 2012 (7:30 p.m.)
MEETING: Toronto Branch OGS
LOCATION: Burgundy Room, North York Memorial Community Hall, 5110 Yonge Street, Toronto
TITLE OF TALK: “Women, Bicycles and Animals: Humanizing the First World War”
NAME OF SPEAKER: Melissa Ellis
BRIEF INFO: A look at some databases of women's involvement in the war effort and the bicycle corps' work in reconnaissance gathering. Additional short presentation by Elayne Lockhart: “My DNA – the Genealogical Gift That Keeps on Giving”. $5 charge for non-members of OGS.

For more information, go to http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/

Hands-on Early Ontario Land Records Course

Toronto Ontario Genealogical Society has added new course to their 2011 schedule -

This course will provide an introduction to the land granting process and the main types of Crown Land Department records, and how to use the various finding aids and collections at the Archives of Ontario to document your ancestor's acquisition of (or attempt to acquire) land in Upper Canada. Hands-on practice following several case histories through the records will help you proceed confidently with your own searches. Registrants must have e-mail and Internet access, and will be expected to do some assigned background reading before each class. Spaces are strictly limited. Please reserve early.

Prerequisite: Basic course or equivalent experience.

Schedule: Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM, October 18, 25, and November 1, 2011 (a three week course).

Location: Archives of Ontario, 134 Ian MacDonald Blvd, Toronto M7A 2C5 (York University)

Instructor: Jane MacNamara

Fee: $50 ($45 for OGS members).

Registration information, and what other courses are available, please go to the Toronto Branch website at http://www.torontofamilyhistory.org/courses.html.