Recorded StLGS Classes
Previous StLGS Classes
Beginning 1 January 2025, all StLGS classes are free and open to everyone. However, we hope you will consider joining us today so we can continue bringing you a full schedule of outstanding classes and events.
| 2024 Classes | ||||
| Month | Class | Instructor | ||
| January | “Foundations of Genealogy, Part I” | Ilene Murray | ||
| Whether you are just beginning or you have been working on your family history for years, sometimes you just need to rethink your strategies. We’ll look at some ways to get organized and stay that way, review basic rules of genealogy, discuss the importance of citing sources, and see how timelines can help guide your research.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| February | “Foundations of Genealogy, Part II” | Ilene Murray | ||
| This class is a follow-up to the first session, and you are encouraged to watch part one first. Most genealogists begin with census research, but then what? We’ll look more closely at how to analyze those census records, how to get the most from vital records, and repositories and internet sites that can help you find what you need to be a better researcher.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| May | “Lineage Societies” | Judy Belford | ||
| Joining a lineage society is an excellent way to honor family heritage, preserve genealogical research on your ancestors, and sometimes an interesting way to meet cousins! The process of documenting your lineage and completing a lineage society application can be challenging. We will share examples of acceptable documents that can be used as proof and provide resources for finding them.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| June | “German Genealogy Begins in the U.S.” | Carol Whitton | ||
| Ultimately we seek a German village of origin in U.S. records. But first—We connect ourselves to an ancestor. Recognize and avoid online pitfalls. Use a different thought process for each ancestor. Answer U.S. questions. Build the whole U.S. family. Learn about Germany. Verify the German village with two U.S. records. Then, we begin research in Germany with parish records.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| July | “Legacy Family Tree, Version 10” (Genealogy Software for Windows) | Cathy Amen | ||
| This course is designed for beginners or those relatively new to Legacy. Course content includes understanding the toolbar and personal options, documenting sources, data entry, simple reports, and tips and tricks. Highlights of the new Version 10 will be reviewed.
There are two handouts for this class; here AND here. |
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| August | “Using DNA Testing for Your Research” | Jim Brewster | ||
| You’ve heard of at-home DNA tests, but what can they actually tell you and how can they help you with genealogy? Join us as we explore the three basic types of DNA: autosomal DNA, mitochondrial DNA, and Y-DNA. We will cover testing options, how they differ, and which one might be the best for your needs.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| September | “Advanced Legacy Family Tree” (Genealogy Software for PC Only) | Cathy Amen | ||
| If you have been using Legacy and want to use its advanced features, this class is for you. Topics include special tools, advanced reports, using hashtags and tags, and advanced searching as well as other topics not included in the Legacy class. (Although not a requirement, it would be helpful to view the Legacy Family Tree, Version 10 class, presented on 20 July 2024. That class is also on this page.)
There are three handouts for this class: Handout Number 1; Handout Number 2; Handout Number 3. Be sure you get all three of them! |
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| November | “St. Louis Resources Online” | Ilene Murray | ||
| Family historians doing research in the St. Louis metropolitan area are extremely fortunate to have so many repositories in which to work, and most of them have robust websites allowing access to indices and records from afar. If you haven’t already discovered the rich treasure at your fingertips, here is your chance as we take a look at more than half a dozen of the local and state-wide (Missouri and Illinois) sites you will most likely want to learn to use effectively.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| 2023 Classes | ||||
| Month | Class | Instructor | ||
| January | “Preserving Family Documents and Photos” | Ilene Murray | ||
| Where and how are you storing your family’s unique paper treasures? How do you preserve those deteriorating family documents and photos? Learn more about proper preservation of paper heirlooms so you can protect your precious family inheritance.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| February | “Introduction to RootsMagic 8 for Windows and Macs” | Jim Ross | ||
| RootsMagic 8, the long-awaited rewrite of this popular genealogy software program, was released in October 2021. This introductory class introduces key features: creating a new tree from scratch; importing an existing tree from another program; adding and maintaining people, places, and media; and managing sources and citations.
This class is appropriate for people who have never used RootsMagic, or who have only used versions 7 or earlier. See also the Intermediate RootsMagic class in December 2023. The handout for this class is here. |
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| March | “Got DNA?” | Debbie Jeske | ||
| If you have received DNA testing results and don’t know what to do with them or are just contemplating taking a test, you will want to participate in this basic DNA class. Learn what types of DNA tests are available and how to use the results of those tests to complement traditional genealogical research.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| June | “Finding an Ancestor’s Land at the the Bureau of Land Management Website and in Plat Maps” | Ilene Murray | ||
| Poles, rods, chains, townships, sections, and ranges––land surveys can be very confusing! Once you’ve mastered the measurements, however, there’s a vast amount of information waiting for you to discover. We will take a look at how to understand and use the rich collection available online at the BLM website as well as how to use and interpret plat maps.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| July | “Uncovering the Taeguk: How to Research Korean War Records” | Thomas Richardson | ||
| Sandwiched between WWII and the ongoing wars in Indochina, the conflict in Korea is often overlooked. However, as the seventieth anniversary approaches, interest in the records the war generated is growing. Learn where to look for those records, what is online vs. what is not, and how to interpret military and government jargon found on them. Discover how to navigate NARA’s new online catalog, its websites, and its Accessible Archive Database (AAD) as well as how to request records that may have been impacted by the 1973 NPRC fire.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| August | “Citations: You Hate Them, But You Need Them!” | Carol Whitton | ||
| Citations can be the bane of a genealogist’s life, but without them, our work remains unfinished. Learn the pitfalls of having no citations and how you can simplify the process of creating them. We will work on strategies for preparing ahead, determining what the basic parts of a citation are, and making templates by copying and pasting. It’s a lot easier than you imagine!
The handout for this class is here. |
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| November | “Finding Answers in the Census” | Judy Belford | ||
| Few records shed as much light on individuals, families, and communities as census records, but the information contained in census records varies from year to year. Join us for an in-depth look at the development of the decennial federal census and the clues they provide that lead to other records.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| December | “RootsMagic 9 (Windows and Mac) . . . And a Bit More on RM8” | Jim Ross | ||
| RootsMagic 9 was released in February 2023. This new version adds exciting new features to RM8, such as Associations (the FAN club), enhanced color coding, searches that can be saved, filters, and more. This class also covers additional RM8 features, such as exchanging data between RM, Ancestry, and FamilySearch.
This class is appropriate for people who have a working familiarity with RootsMagic 8 or later. See also the Introductory RootsMagic class in February 2023. The handout for this class is here. |
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| 2022 Classes | ||||
| Month | Class | Instructor | ||
| February | “Using PowerPoint for Genealogy” | Ilene Murray | ||
| You’ve seen dozens of lectures presented using this software, but have you thought of how you might use it for your genealogy? Learn the basics of creating PowerPoint presentations so you can share family photos, memories of trips, family stories, research documents, and so much more.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| March | “Intermediate Irish Research” | Carol Hemmersmeier & Kay Weber | ||
| So what if most of the Irish census records were destroyed in 1922. There are still many records available to help you find that coveted townland, as well as other fascinating facts about your ancestors. This class explores what you can find in Irish records and where to look.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| June | “Researching Your Catholic Ancestors” | Rena Schergen | ||
| Archivist, Rena Schergen, will discuss researching Catholic records within the Archdiocese of St. Louis, which encompasses the counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Perry, St. Charles, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis, Warren, and Washington. She will briefly cover records regarding parishes, schools, orphanages, priests, cemeteries, religious orders, newspapers, and more.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| August | “Finding Grandma: Researching the Women in Your Family” | Judy Belford | ||
| Researching female ancestors is difficult due to name changes and lack of records, especially when you consider women had few legal rights throughout much of history. AThe majority of records are in the man’s name and women were silent partners.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| 2021 Classes | ||||
| Month | Class | Instructor | ||
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| March | “Beginning Irish Research” | Carol Hemmersmeier & Kay Weber | ||
| Learn the basics of Irish genealogy. Explore ways to find parishes and townlands using available records.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| March | “Leaving Home and Becoming an American: Part I: Leaving Home: Emigration/Immigration” | Ilene Murray | ||
| Our ancestors endured the hardships of leaving their homelands to ensure better lives for themselves and, ultimately, for us. Learn the basic principles of immigration research, how and why your ancestors left their homes, and how to track them, if possible.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| April | “Leaving Home and Becoming an American: Part II: Becoming an American: Naturalization” | Ilene Murray | ||
| If your ancestors became American citizens, they followed a process that kept changing over time. We will look at some of the naturalization laws in effect since early in U.S. history, see some sample records, and discover what you may or may not find on naturalization forms.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| May | “Reunion 13 for the Mac” (Genealogy software, Mac only) | Bob Goode | ||
| Reunion is the most popular genealogical application for the Mac and version 13 is the latest update. This class was for those who are already familiar with previous versions of Reunion and want to learn about the new features. However, some of the basic features of Reunion were demonstrated.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| June | “Reading German Handwriting” | Carol Whitton | ||
| Learn the handwritten old German alphabet, as well as helpful tips and resources for reading and understanding historical German records.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| 2020 Classes | ||||
| Month | Class |
Instructor | ||
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| August | “Using FamilySearch Online” | Bob Goode | ||
| This class will go over the main sections of FamilySearch.org, one of the largest websites for free genealogy. The focus will not be on digital images but rather the various sections of this constantly changing website.
The handout for this class is here. |
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| October | “Orphanage Care in St. Louis” | Viki Fagyal | ||
| There have always been orphans in every society, although how orphans have been cared for varies. The first orphanage in St. Louis can be traced to about 1828. Learn about the history of orphans and orphanages in St. Louis. (This lecture was part of the StLGS 2020 Fall Speaker Series and is one-hour long.)
The handout for this class is here. |
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Last modified: 21-Dec-2024 10:58