Alphabetical by speaker’s last name
About Short Takes
New this year, Short Takes deliver focused genealogy learning in a compact format. These 10- to 20-minute pre-recorded presentations zero in on a specific idea, tool, case study, technique, or emerging resource—giving you practical information without a full-hour commitment. Watch one when you have a few minutes or explore several related Short Takes for a deeper dive into a topic.
Amy E.M. Coughlin
Excel and Copilot Illuminate a 1900s Fort Worth Family
Using census data from the 1900 and 1910 federal enumerations, this session demonstrates how Excel and Copilot can support customized statistical analysis of a family’s neighbors. Visualizations reveal differences in occupation, household structure, and living standards that help place a Fort Worth railroad engineer’s family in clearer social and economic context.
- Type: Short Take
- Track(s): AI, Technology
- Level(s):Intermediate
Nancy Gilbride Casey
Leaving a Legacy of Words: Where to Share Your Family Stories & Research
We often worry that no one will remember our stories once we are gone. We are sometimes wonder where we can share our stories so that others can find them. Well wonder no more! This quick session will outline 10 places to upload or share your written stories so that family, friends, other researchers, and maybe even a future descendant will be able to access them. From Facebook to the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, come get some new ideas for how to share your precious family history stories.
- Type: Short Take
- Track(s): Writing, Storytelling
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Allyson Maughan
When Pictures Talk
Pictures tell us about our ancestors’ lives. They can guide us through research process. We will look at the clues in pictures to find out information such as jobs, housing, hobbies, and more. We listen as our pictures talk.
- Type: Short Take
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): Beginner,
Margaret McMahon
Searching for Online WWII U.S. Army Morning Reports
Morning Reports are valuable but often overlooked U.S. Army records documenting units and the soldiers assigned to them. Learn what these records contain and discover how they help overcome burned personnel files. Explore searching for them through the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Catalog.
- Type: Short Takes
- Track(s): Records and Resources
- Level(s): All levels
Bernard Meisner
Using Scribe AI by MyHeritage to Easily Analyze Your Documents and Images
Learn how Scribe AI can analyze, transcribe and – if needed – interpret handwritten and typed documents, estimate the date and location of your old family photos, decipher the symbolism on gravestones, and interpret family crests and coats of arms.
- Type: Short Take
- Track(s):
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Michelle L Spencer
More Thank Bricks and Mortar: Sanborn Maps as a Genealogy Tool
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps were drawn for insurers, not genealogists yet they reveal where our ancestors lived, worked, and worshipped in extraordinary detail. This short take unlocks what these maps can tell you beyond building footprints: occupants, neighbors, community context, and the texture of daily life in towns large and small.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s):
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
C. Ann Staley
Census Research – Which Version of the Population Schedule are Your Doing?
Which version of the federal census population schedule are you looking at? Did you know there were other versions of some years? Explore the possibilities in this presentation!
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Short Takes
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Edward Swierczewski
Smart Starts: AI for Genealogists
This presentation introduces practical AI tools that can assist genealogists with summarizing documents, organizing research, improving writing, translating materials, and evaluating work against genealogical standards. Attendees will learn how to use AI efficiently and responsibly while maintaining sound research practices, critical thinking, and ethical judgment.
- Type: Short Take
- Track(s): AI, Technology
- Level(s): All levels
Natalie Webb
Write Better Genealogy Prompts Fast: A Live Demo of Prompt Cowboy for AI Beginners
New to AI but not to genealogy? This fast-paced demo introduces Prompt Cowboy, a simple tool for generating effective prompts. Learn how to create clear, structured requests that improve results for translation, transcription, and research tasks—without needing technical experience or prior AI knowledge.
- Type: Short Takes
- Track(s): AI, Technology
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate