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2026 Class Preview

Here is a sneak peek at all of the new sessions coming to RootsTech in 2026. This list changes frequently, so come back often and plan to start building your schedule in January.

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  • In person
    Advanced/Professional
    2026

    Provenance & Proof: Advanced Strategies for Finding and Using Manuscripts In Your Research

    Manuscripts are more than historical artifacts; they are silent witnesses that can transform your genealogical research. This session will explore how to locate and analyze valuable manuscripts, including minister journals, lawyer notebooks, personal papers, and unpublished family histories, found in both major repositories and local collections. We will dive into the complexities of working with manuscripts, including evaluating provenance, identifying authors and transcribers, comparing manuscript versions, and extracting reliable data from uncited or edited materials. Attendees will learn how to incorporate scripted evidence into genealogical proof arguments, how to overcome challenges with unsourced content, and discover underutilized resources that can break through research barriers. This session is designed for professional genealogists looking to expand their research toolkit and tackle the complexities of manuscript-based evidence.
  • Online
    All Levels
    2026

    Founding a Nation: Acadian & French Canadian Pioneers and Their History

    Do you know if your ancestors were among the earliest of French people that settled Acadia (which became Nova Scotia) or Quebec (which became Quebec City, then the Province of Quebec)? Learn about websites, records, timelines and the ancestors who created New France, which later became Canada.
  • In person
    All Levels
    2026

    Beginning Your Acadian and French Canadian Research & Taking It Further!

    What do you know about your Acadian and/or French-Canadian ancestors other than basics such as their surnames (do you know their "dit" name?), who they married, where they were born, married or died? Do you know the resources that will tell you more about their lives and what they experienced? This session will offer resources, websites and deeper information about the lives of the ancestors from colonial Acadia, Quebec, and the communities they built as they moved, grew in numbers and spread across North America and the world.
  • In person
    All Levels
    2026

    Family History Work in YOUR Phase of Life: An Empowering Approach for Latter-day Saints

    Prophets continue to encourage members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to engage in family history work as part of the very important “gathering of Israel.” HOW we engage may look very different at various stages of our individual lives. Understanding that concept is critical for avoiding guilt, feeling the Spirit of the work, and feeling productive & joyful through a lifetime of family history efforts. This session will include encouraging and empowering quotes from prophets and apostles as well as real-life examples of the kinds of family history activities that make sense during various life phases. Attendees will consider how seeking personal revelation for our family history efforts is individually unique and can aide us over and over again as we seek to gather Israel through our ever-changing lives.
  • In person
    All Levels
    2026

    Scottish Church Records - Not just Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals

    Scottish church records contain far more than details of baptisms, marriages and burials, and could hold the key to breaking down your genealogical brick walls. This session looks at what types of records were created, what genealogical information you might find in them, and how to access surviving records. Come away inspired to research even further back on your Scottish ancestral lines.
  • Beginner
    2026

    Surnames, Clans and Tartans: Help or Hindrance for Your Scottish Research?

    Do any surnames in your ancestry start with Mc or Mac? Or perhaps you have another common Scottish surname like Stewart, Gordon or Campbell? If you've ever wondered about links to the clans of the Scottish Highlands, and debated over which tartan you should be wearing then this is the session for you!

    During this session you will learn about different types of surnames in Scotland and why not every Scottish surname connects to a clan. We will cover a brief history of clans and tartans, and look at how to research accurately back through the generations to make a firm link with a clan. We shall also touch briefly on Y-DNA testing, and how this has been used to prove deep Scottish ancestry.