I have a range of talks and workshops that I can deliver, in person or remotely. These are suitable for genealogical or local history conferences or webinars, or for adult enrichment programs at public libraries or community centers. Most of these are flexible in length and can be delivered in 60–90 minutes, including Q&A.
Main categories include:
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
ChatGPT for Genealogists
Explore how ChatGPT, the latest breakthrough in artificial intelligence, can become a powerful ally in your genealogical research. After a quick introduction to how this tool works, we’ll dive into a series of hands-on examples that showcase the full range of its capabilities. From providing rich historical context and suggesting source material to interpreting images, translating records, generating content, and extracting information from PDFs, ChatGPT can tackle an impressive variety of tasks. Join us to see how AI can revolutionize your research, saving you time and revealing new insights in unexpected ways.
ChatGPT for Genealogists: Beyond the Basics
A second-level class for those who have some experience with using ChatGPT and want to take it to the next level. We’ll look at Projects, Memory, Deep Research, Apps, Agent mode, Custom GPTs, and learn what causes hallucinations and how they can be avoided.
Note: The first ChatGPT for Genealogists talk, the Beyond the Basics talk, and any one of the image-oriented AI classes below can make a nice trio of talks for a one-day conference. And the two ChatGPT talks together can be delivered as a workshop.
NotebookLM for Genealogists
Dive into the world of NotebookLM, Google’s “personal AI-based research assistant,” and discover how it can supercharge your genealogical research. Imagine having an assistant that not only organizes your notes, books, journal articles, and original records but also helps you make connections and draw insights from them. In this session, we’ll explore how to maximize the productivity boost from NotebookLM, turning complex data into clear stories and actionable discoveries. Whether you’re managing stacks of family records or sifting through historical documents, NotebookLM could be the tool that transforms your research journey.
Artificial Intelligence for Genealogists: The Best of What’s Available Today
Step into the future of genealogy with a discussion and demonstration of today’s most powerful AI tools: ChatGPT, NotebookLM, and Transkribus. In this session, you’ll discover how each of these cutting-edge technologies can elevate your research by enhancing productivity, providing historical insights, decoding handwritten documents, and much more. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced researcher, this session will equip you with the AI resources to push your family history research further than ever before.
Decoding the Past: AI-Powered Photo Analysis for Genealogists
Every photograph contains hidden historical evidence, but only if you know how to look. In this visually-rich program, you’ll learn how artificial intelligence can help genealogists interpret and date old images by recognizing period fashions, hairstyles, architectural details, and military uniforms. You’ll also see how AI tools can evaluate damaged photos and suggest ethical restoration strategies. Through practical examples and demonstrations, this session shows how to combine machine vision with human expertise to unlock the stories behind your family photographs.
Reimagining the Past: AI-Generated Images for Genealogists
Artificial intelligence allows us to create vivid, historically-inspired images of our ancestors and their world. At the same time it raises new questions about authenticity and ethics. In this visually engaging program, you will learn how AI image generation can be used responsibly to reconstruct the past without rewriting it. Through examples ranging from restrained, AI-guided photo restoration to more imaginative artistic illustrations, you’ll learn the key techniques and recommended practices for maintaining transparency and historical accuracy.
NEW ENGLAND GENEALOGY
Introduction to New Hampshire Genealogy
A survey of New Hampshire genealogy, focusing on the records most useful to each period of the Granite State’s 400-year history. Although the emphasis will be on sources that are free and available online, we will also discuss local resources and offer some tips on planning a research trip to New Hampshire.
New Hampshire to 1776: Making Sense of the Colonial Era
The researcher of early New Hampshire genealogy faces a bewildering series of border disputes and jurisdictional changes, much of it echoing factional struggles in England. In this presentation we review the history of this period and use this understanding to improve our ability to locate and interpret early genealogical records.
Genealogical Gold in New England Town Books and Reports
In this presentation we examine two important, but underused, town-level resources. Old town books, as maintained by town clerks since colonial times, and town annual reports, published from the mid-19th century to the present, can provide the breakthrough clues needed to demolish your genealogical brick wall. Where census and compiled vital records fail us, these resources can save the day. I will cover where to find these resources, how to interpret them, and how to use them to solve your genealogical conundrums.
(This talk focuses on using direct and indirect evidence from old town record books and reports. The examples are drawn from all over New England, and where possible I add in an example or two from the town of the hosting organization. I also do a variation of the talk where I dive deeper into town books, but don’t discuss town annual reports. That focused version is more appropriate for an intermediate audience.)
A Closer Look at Vital Records
They seem to be the simplest and most direct of all genealogical records, an official government document stating the facts of a birth, marriage or death. But with vital records there is more here than meets the eye. We’ll explore a range of complications, from unfaithful record copies, to uninformed informants, from marriages that never were, to births and deaths that didn’t happen where the record says they did. The goal is to hone our record analysis skills and thereby become better genealogists.
(This talk is focused on the improving genealogist, looking to take his or her analysis skills to the next level. Depending on the mix of experience levels in the group, I can tilt the presentation more toward beginner or more toward intermediate skill levels. The examples used are drawn from New England, from the 18th to 20th centuries.)
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way (To Find It): Getting Started with Probate Research
Unlock the potential of probate records in genealogy with this hands-on introduction to probate research. Learn the steps to locate and interpret wills, inventories, guardianships, and other critical documents that reveal the stories of your ancestors’ lives, property, and family ties.
17th Century Handwriting: Reading Bradford’s Journal
Join us for a workshop on William Bradford’s journal, “Of Plimoth Plantation.” Bradford was a Mayflower passenger and the longest-serving governor of Plymouth Colony. He maintained a journal that documented events in the colony from 1608 to 1647. You’ll hear the story of Plymouth Colony and the surprising story of the manuscript itself, and then receive a tutorial on how to read early 17th century handwriting. It is easier than you might think! Finally, we’ll work through selected passages from Bradford’s journal, and together experience the satisfaction of reading and understanding a 400-year-old handwritten manuscript. Passages include: the first encounters with the natives, the origins of the Mayflower Compact, the sickness and death of the first winter, and the first bountiful harvest the following year.
(This is something that will be of interest to multiple groups, including genealogists working on ancestors from this time period, local history buffs who want to work with primary documents from this time period, and anyone interested in Pilgrim history.)
DNA
DNA for the Overwhelmed: Easy First Steps for Working with Shared Matches
The test kit was on sale. You bought one, dutifully deposited your saliva in the plastic tube and mailed it in. Now, a few weeks later the results are in: haplotypes and ethnicity estimates, something about earwax type, and a giant list of 537 people who (apparently) are your kinfolk. It is all a bit overwhelming. In this talk we’ll cut through the distractions and walk you through the exact steps to take to find, organize and interpret shared matches, a technique that works with all the major DNA testing services, and can be done with a spreadsheet, a word processor, or even a stack of index cards. Using this technique, we’ll make sense of the chaos and start extracting genealogical value from our DNA.
(This is designed to be a practical “how to” talk on genetic genealogy. I keep jargon to a minimum, and focus on a simple way to work with shared matches. This method taught is applicable to all DNA services, including those like Ancestry DNA that do not provide their customers segment-level match data. No prior background with genetic genealogy is assumed.)
Genealogical Reasoning with DNA
In this workshop we’ll discuss what a DNA test really is, and how it can help with our genealogy. We’ll discuss how DNA is passed down from generation to generation. We’ll then review the types of genealogical questions which can be resolved with evidence from DNA testing, breaking it down into easy recipes. We’ll then apply our knowledge by working through and discussing a series of progressively more difficult problems.
(This intermediate-level talk is rigorous and covers a lot of information. The focus is on developing a good mental model of the four ways in which DNA is passed down in a family tree, and how to use this knowledge to reason about DNA evidence. The material ideally fits into a 90 minute session, though I have a shorter version that runs 60 minutes, with Q&A.)
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
It’s a Date!
Master the art of dating in genealogy with this guide to the fundamentals of interpreting historical dates and calendars. From Julian to Gregorian transitions, Quaker dates, and even French Revolutionary calendars, we’ll dive into the nuances of historical timekeeping. Learn tricks for calculating birth and death dates, resolving double dates, and avoiding common dating pitfalls in records.
Location, Location, Location: Mastering Geography Skills for Genealogical Research
Unlock the power of geography in genealogy with essential skills for understanding locations, boundaries, and historical contexts. This session covers everything from interpreting old maps and county lines to tracking down records in evolving jurisdictions. Learn how to resolve place name puzzles and use tools like the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries to follow your ancestors’ movements across regions and eras.
A Closer Look at the U.S. Census: Uncovering Hidden Details in Federal Records
Take a journey through U.S. Census history and discover the powerful insights hidden in each decade’s unique questions, from 1790 to 1950. This lecture explores the evolution of census records, revealing fascinating details on family structure, occupations, health, and social status. Learn how to navigate missing records, interpret enumerator notes, and use specialized schedules, like mortality and agricultural, to bring your ancestors’ lives into focus.
Introduction to U.S. Immigration Records: Tracing Your Ancestors’ Journeys
Discover the fascinating details held within U.S. immigration records, from early customs records to Ellis Island manifests and beyond. This session walks you through the evolution of immigration documentation and key insights for genealogists, including tips on navigating complex records and understanding the impact of language and cultural shifts. Along with naturalization records, immigration records often provide the key evidence needed to “cross the pond” and connect an ancestor to their home town.
Introduction to Naturalization Records: Tracing Your Ancestors’ Path to Citizenship
Explore the fascinating world of naturalization records as we uncover the journey of immigrants who became U.S. citizens. This session covers the evolution of citizenship laws, the steps in the naturalization process, and tips for navigating records from the earliest days through modern times. Learn about unique cases, from military service exceptions to changing laws for women and special provisions for specific ethnic groups. Along with immigration records, naturalization records often provide the key evidence needed to “cross the pond” and connect an ancestor to their home town.
Books and Genealogy: A Treasure Trove of Resources for Every Researcher
Unlock the full potential of genealogical research with this guide to finding, borrowing, and buying the best books in genealogy. From out-of-copyright gems available online to hard-to-find tomes in specialized libraries, this talk reveals proven strategies for locating essential resources. Learn how to use key bibliographies, online archives, library catalogs, and interlibrary loan systems, along with tips for snagging out-of-print editions to build your personal research library.
OTHER
10 Genealogical Brick Walls You Will Face (and How to Demolish Them)
In genealogy, a brick wall is an ancestor who seemingly refuses, despite repeated attempts, to reveal their origins. No matter how hard you try, you are unable to connect them to your family tree. They remain the stubborn puzzle piece who refuses to fit in. In this presentation we will survey the most common kinds of brick walls and learn some tricks for demolishing them. From immigrants to paupers, sojourners to pioneers, name shifters to hushed-up family secrets, nearly every genealogist will come across these types.
(This is a talk that works well with a mixed audience that includes absolute beginners as well as intermediate and more advanced genealogists. The beginner will learn about some brick walls they will eventually face, the intermediate researcher will learn how to tackle some that they are already facing, and the more advanced genealogist will learn a different way to think about what they are probably already doing.)
Transcribing and Editing Historical Documents
Transcribing is the act of taking writing in one form, often a handwritten manuscript, and turning it into another form, often a typeset report, book or web page. Doing a transcription can take the text of a manuscript that is currently accessible to only a few specialists, and make it more broadly available to the public. But as soon as we attempt a transcription project, numerous details arise, questions of how to deal with letter forms no longer in use, archaic spelling, capitalization and punctuation, missing text in the original due to damage, readings that are unclear, and so on. How do we make a faithful version of a handwritten document in type? In this talk, we’ll discuss the issues most-commonly faced by transcribers and review the various conventions for transcribing historical manuscripts, and their trade-offs. We’ll focus especially on the semi-diplomatic style, as appropriate for genealogy and local history.
Checklists for Genealogy: Boosting Accuracy and Efficiency in Your Research
Discover how using checklists can transform your genealogical research by ensuring thoroughness, minimizing errors, and saving time. From research planning and onsite visits to reviewing reports and contacting DNA matches, this session will walk you through essential checklists that help keep your projects organized and reliable. Inspired by innovations in medicine and aviation, learn how to incorporate structured checklists into your genealogy toolkit.
First Steps in Scottish Genealogy
From the United States and Canada, to Jamaica, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, to Poland, Russia, and the Baltic states, Scottish immigrants can be found around the world. In this introductory program on Scottish genealogy, we will learn how to trace families through Scottish records, focusing on the core vital, church, and census records available online. We will also look at patterns of immigration, and dispel some myths related to Scotland and its people.
Dating Old Photographs: Unlocking Clues to Your Ancestors’ Era
This session explores techniques for identifying photographic materials, reading scene details, recognizing fashion trends, and understanding studio markings to pinpoint the time period of any photograph. Perfect for genealogists eager to use visual clues to bring their ancestors’ stories into focus, this talk will equip you with the skills to transform mysterious photos into documented family treasures.