United States Research Seminar



The Family History Library and the Research Specialists of the United States and Canada Reference team invite you to a free, never before offered, week-long seminar from the 12th through the 16th October 2015. The focus will be exclusively U.S. research. The seminar is perfect for beginning and intermediate genealogists interested in learning about U.S. records, FamilySearch resources, and Family History Library collections. Come and spend a week learning from our expert staff of genealogists on how to effectively use the FamilySearch Catalog, Historical Records, and Research Wiki. Explore such topics as cemetery, census, church, immigration, land, military, naturalization, newspaper, probate, and vital records. Learn more about African-American and American Indian research. And discover new techniques, strategies, and methodology to apply to your genealogical research problems. Seating is limited to 50 participants, so be sure to register early to secure a spot. Each participant will be provided a free spiral-bound syllabus containing all class handouts and materials. To register for the seminar, send an email to bingamantd@familysearch.org. Please include “United States Research Seminar Registration” in the subject line. Also, tell us your preferred name, the city where you live, and the best way for us to contact you. We hope this seminar will not only be informative and instructive, but that it will also encourage and inspire you to continue your family history research. Perhaps this seminar will be just what you need to break through that 20 year old brick wall research problem. We look forward to meeting you!

Instructors
Danielle L. Batson, AG, MLS spent 13 years working as a U.S. and Canada Reference Consultant at the Family History Library and her current assignment is working on content projects in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. Her research experience includes African-American research, the Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic States. She has also taught genealogy research classes at the Family History Library as well as various genealogical conferences including FGS in San Antonio and BYU’s Conference on Family History and Genealogy. David Dilts, AG has been employed with the Family History Library since September 1975 first as a cataloger of German, Austrian, Swiss and Polish records then reference consultant. He earned his Master’s degree in Library Science from BYU and completed three years of doctoral work in history at the University of Utah. He is accredited in German and LDS research and has great experience in researching, writing and lecturing on genealogical topics.

Jason Harrison, CG is Supervisor of the Family History Library’s United States &amp; Canada Research Specialists. He received his B.A. in Family History from Brigham Young University, is a Certified Genealogist, former New England Historic Genealogical Society intern, and National Genealogical Society conference lecturer. His research specialties include New England, Mountain states, and LDS research.

Joan Healey, AG is a native of Salt Lake City and earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah. Joan worked with the U.S./Canada/LDS Reference of the Family History Library since 1976, taking a short break to be the record attendant supervisor in British and European Reference She nurtures an interest in American Indian and African American research, and has contributed information to the FamilySearch Research Wiki.

Joni Kesler, BS, AG has been with the Family History Library for 30 years She has worked in the United States, British, Hosting and VIP units. Besides spending personal time on her own family history, Joni helps individuals in her ward to find ancestor’s names to take to the temple. She also enjoys spending time with her family of four daughters, four granddaughters, and one grandson. She loves reading and spending time with her family.

Nathan W. Murphy, MA, AG a United States and Canada Senior Research Consultant at the Family History Library, has been quoted by History Detectives, How the States Got Their Shapes and The Generations Project have sought his expertise for their TV shows. He has completed four years of Ph.D. studies in Colonial American and English history at Leicester and the University of Utah. Nathan is passionate about tracing immigrant origins and promoting DNA. He has published articles in scholarly genealogical journals in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Ken Nelson, AG is a collection manager for FamilySearch, and member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Society of Civil War Historians.

Tim Bingaman, AG has worked at the Family History Library since 1990 acquiring his AG in Mid-Atlantic States in 1991. A member of the Historical Society of Berks County, Pennsylvania and the Berks County Genealogical Society, Tim has made numerous trips to Pennsylvania where he spends a great deal of time visiting societies, courthouses, cemeteries and the neighborhoods where his ancestors lived.