Alphabetical by speaker’s last name
About Pre-Recorded Lectures
Extend your conference experience with a selection of full-length pre-recorded lectures from respected genealogy speakers. These 60-minute presentations offer additional topics and learning opportunities beyond the live conference program and will be available to registered attendees for 90 days following the conference. Speaker handouts are included in the conference syllabus/compendium for easy reference as you watch and continue your research.
Esther Camacho
From Frustration to Discovery: Mastering Hispanic Genealogical Research Challenges
Questions such as “Why am I unable to locate records? How should I interpret this information?” are concerns that frequently arise in Hispanic research. The process of deciphering Spanish handwriting styles presents challenges. This session covers naming conventions, reading dates and abbreviations, and key terms found in genealogical records.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Ethnic-Hispanic
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Diana Elder
Uncovering Her Story: Research Methods for Pre-1850 Female Ancestors
Discover how meticulous analysis of tax documents, divorce proceedings, and county court records revealed Polly Cessna’s hidden history in rural Georgia. This case study demonstrates how to piece together a woman’s complete identity from seemingly disconnected legal documents. Attendees will learn effective research methods for tracking name changes, identifying male associates, and interpreting legal terminology that can illuminate female ancestors’ lives despite the recordkeeping challenges of the early 1800s.
- Type: Pre-recorded lecture
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): Intermediate, Advanced
From Complex to Clear: Transform Court Records with AI Tools
Court records offer rich genealogical evidence but challenge researchers with archaic language and complex terminology. AI tools can transform this research by enabling full-text search, translating obsolete legal terms, transcribing handwritten documents, and organizing evidence from probate, divorce, and civil proceedings into clear, analyzable formats.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): AI, Technology
- Level(s): Intermediate
Debbie Gurtler
I Didn’t Know You Could Search Like That!
FamilySearch adds millions of records every year, are you finding everything you should? This class will highlight many ways to search to make sure you leave no stone unturned in the search for your ancestors.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Skill Building, Technology
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Jean Wilcox Hibben
The GTT Journey of Discovery: Texas was the Settlement Goal
Even before Texas became a state, the term “GTT” (“Gone to Texas”) was a common notation in records of places where people seemed to vanish. Whether or not your Texas ancestor had roots elsewhere, some connected events that might provide you with insights into your family tree are presented here.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Migration
- Level(s): Intermediate
J. Mark Lowe
Beyond the Records: Discovering Hidden Manuscripts of Texas-Bound Families
Discovery isn’t just about the past—it’s about connecting in the present. Turn technology into a tool for ongoing family discovery. This session focuses on creating meaningful, consistent connections that lead to new stories, shared memories, and collaborative research breakthroughs.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Methodology, Writing and Storytelling
- Level(s): All levels
Whiskey, Land, and Legacy: Claiming Opportunity in Early Texas
From handshake deals sealed with whiskey to contested land claims, the path to land ownership in Texas was rarely simple. This session follows the journey of settlers seeking opportunity, showing how land records reveal migration patterns, economic struggles, and community formation.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Migration, Methodology
- Level(s): All levels
Annette Burke Lyttle
Reconstructing A Community: The Fastest Path through Missing Records
When key records are missing, rebuild the community around your ancestor. Learn a practical community-reconstruction method using tax, land, court, church, newspapers, and cluster associates. We’ll cover how to choose a target group, track identities over time, and turn indirect evidence into proof.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): All levels
Evidence analysis made simple: a repeatable workflow
Stop collecting records and start extracting evidence. This session teaches a simple workflow for reading any document: identify what it is, what it says, who said it, and why it was created—then translate that into evidence you can correlate.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): All levels
Rev. David McDonald
Church Records for Genealogists
In the absence of vital records, suitable substitutes must be located. Baptism/dedication, Confirmation/baptism, marriage and burial records are critical records for genealogists. We’ll discuss their use and how to locate church records.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s):
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Midwesterners to Texas in the Antebellum Period
Case studies of families immigrating west and south from the Ohio River Valley in the Republic era and early statehood years prior to the Civil War.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Migration
- Level(s): All levels
Bernard Meisner
A Deep Dive Into Irish Census Records
This year’s release of the 1926 census of the Republic of Ireland has brought renewed interest in Irish Census Records. Learn what records are available, what they contain, and how to access and interpret them.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Records and Resources
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Gail Jackson Miller
Strategies for Using Tax Lists to Identify That Early Southerner
Many beginning and even experienced researchers have never learned to use tax lists effectively in southern research. Even though tax lists are difficult to use, they are one of the few records created yearly by your ancestor. They help in overcoming problems due to non-existent birth records, multiple men of the same name, and families so poor that they never owned land or settled an estate.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Records & Resources
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Tameka Susberry Miller
Creating Tables and Charts to Track and Understand Your Ancestors
The information contained in historical indices and other volumes can be overwhelming! The presenter will use city directories to demonstrate how creating tables can enable you to recognize and decipher patterns in genealogical data as well as avoid ignoring or overlooking information critical to developing your research.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Andrew Redfern
One Document, Many Clues: Using AI to Extract More from a Single Record
A single record can contain far more clues than first appear. This short session demonstrates how AI can help genealogists transcribe, extract, organise, and interrogate information from one document—while still applying sound research judgement. Attendees will see a practical workflow they can immediately use with letters, certificates, articles, and other records.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Technology, AI
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Diane L. Richard
The Power of People – Voices Via Petitions
Sometimes we have to “fight” for what we want, and that leads to certain types of petition. Sometimes we seek government authorization for certain activities, and that requires a different type of petition. Petitions are a means by which one person, many people, or an entire community can seek to change the status quo. Much of early legislation in our country is a result of petitions.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Were Your Ancestors Masons? Let’s Talk About Available Records
This talk focuses on records available to those researching Masonic ancestors; the perspective is access to genealogically relevant records versus Masonic membership insights. These records can be an invaluable resource if one’s ancestors belonged to a lodge in the US, UK, Canada, or Europe. We’ll talk about online records, online finding aids, and on-the-ground repositories.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Katy Rowe-Schurwanz
The Match Game: Strategies to Identify Unknown Family Finder Matches
Discover how to maximize the tools offered by FamilyTreeDNA to identify connections with your Family Finder matches. Beyond the platform’s native features, this session dives into helpful third-party tools that streamline your research. Strategies are designed to help researchers at any level make new connections, validate existing documentation, and grow their family trees.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): DNA
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
David Ryan
A Terrible Beauty’: Researching Irish Revolutionary Ancestors
The Irish have long held a reputation as fighters and revolutionaries. This was especially true in the years 1916 – 1922. The goal of this talk is to discuss the period of 1916 to 1922 and to provide a detailed examination of those involved in the conflict and what sources survive. The aftermath of the revolution will also be explored
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Records & Resources
- Level(s): Intermediate, Advanced
John Sellers
Your Ancestor’s Own Cousin, other Relations, and their Value to Your Research
The study of collateral research, siblings of your ancestors and their offspring can lead you to new research and discoveries. Rarely does a family unit move across the country in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries alone. They are a part of an extended family, church, or ethnic group.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): Advanced
Gay Solomon
Why Were They “Gone to Texas”?
Emigration was often caused by your ancestor being pushed away from where they lived or being pulled toward a new place. What pushed or pulled them? Economic factors often played a significant role. No graphs–just simple explanations of how 18th and 19th century economic factors affected migration decisions.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Migration
- Level(s): All levels
C. Ann Staley
Census Research – What do all those codes mean?
Help! Why are the numbers “4098” written on the 1910 federal census population schedule for my ancestor? What does “M2” mean in the marriage column? Why do some of the listings have a check mark? Come explore the Bureau of Census and the census tabulation process.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Skill Building
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Overlooked Research Sources: A Gold Mine Waiting to be Discovered
We sometimes get caught in a research “rut”, forgetting there are different types of sources and repositories to be scoured for information and clues. Using some of these sources just might be the ticket needed to expand our family history.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Skill Building
- Level(s): All levels
Becky Stephens
The Story Between the Lines: Document Analysis
This lecture demonstrates genealogical document analysis focusing on content and background context, including legal, historical, political, geographic, and date factors. Learn how to analyze for evidence, develop a focused research question, and create a structured research plan. See exciting examples of how document analysis leads to the discovery of family stories.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Skill Building
- Level(s): All levels
Paula Stuart-Warren
German Research Gems in Back Issues of U.S. Genealogical and Historical Periodicals
Genealogical, historical, ethnic, and sociological periodicals of the past hold gems on German ancestors and collateral families and their communities. Topics include repositories, history, churches, cemeteries, military, surnames, families, bibles, and migration. Some periodicals cover only Germans and may not be in English.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Ethnic- German
- Level(s): All levels
Edward Swierczewski
AI in America: Ancestors in Context
Explore how AI can help genealogists reconstruct the everyday lives of American ancestors by connecting records to social, cultural, political, economic, and familial context. Through case study, demonstrations, and practical examples, attendees will learn how to use AI responsibly to deepen interpretation, strengthen narratives, and better understand ancestors within the world they inhabited.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Records & Resources
- Level(s): All levels
Larry Thomas
America at 250: Patriots, Loyalists, and Revolutionary Families
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, this session explores the varied Revolutionary-era experiences of Patriots, Loyalists, and displaced families across the original thirteen colonies. Participants learn research strategies for documenting military service, civil loyalty claims, land grants, tax lists, and post-war migration patterns.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate
Pam Vestal
Genealogical Pits I Have Fallen Into and How to Avoid Them
Genealogy is a great treasure hunt, but sometimes the clues are easy to misunderstand, or to miss altogether. We’ll look at eight obstacles that may be preventing you from breaking through your brick walls, and explore practical solutions to overcome them. Here’s your chance to learn from my mistakes without making them yourself!
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Methodology
- Level(s): All Levels
Ari Wilkins
Unique African American Records
Learn about some of the most unusual and underutilized African American records and where to find them.
- Type: Pre-recorded Lecture
- Track(s): Ethnic-African American
- Level(s): Beginner, Intermediate