Wednesday, September 17

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Getting Unstuck: Working Through Research Problems

Presented by Claire Smith

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Break down your genealogy brick walls. Learn techniques to evaluate your sources, mine all of the clues, find the context, and discover your ancestor’s neighbors and friends. Get out of your comfort zone and make progress.

Wednesday, September 24

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Chasing Claire: The Treasures of Genealogical Travel

Presented by Karin Borgerson

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Learn about how chasing one ancestor can lead to travel across multiple states, new friendships, and literally getting your hands dirty while doing genealogy! Plus tips for making the most of genealogical travel.

Wednesday, October 1     

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Canadian Genealogy

Presented by Jenny Warner

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Learn about the history of Canada, what genealogical records are available, and how to find them.

Wednesday, October 8     

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

AN INTRODUCTION – to Find My Past Records

Presented by Steven W. Morrison

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Findmypast (FMP) is a subscription website and is one of the BIG FIVE genealogical companies. Across the pond, it partners with several family history organizations, major libraries and archives. As a result, some of its British and Irish records are unique, and unavailable on other genealogy websites. Presented in a case study format.

Wednesday, October 15   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Adoption Meets DNA

Presented by Beth Swartz

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Overview of the availability of Adoption records and the impact of taking a consumer DNA test, which can open doors to finding biological family.

Wednesday, October 22   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

If These Walls Could Talk – House and Neighborhood Histories

Presented by Mary Kircher Roddy

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

I don’t know of many genealogists who aren’t also historians.  It’s in our natures to be curious of what went on before,  to understand our family’s history – but it’s also interesting to learn more about that place where we spend our daily lives – our homes.  Who was here before me?  How might they have used this home?  What tales did they bring home from their work or school at the end of the day?  Who were their neighbors?  Has my house always looked this way?  Learning about your house and neighborhood can increase your sense of place and help you to connect on a deeper level with that place you call “Home.”

(After Mary’s talk, bring stories of any “hauntings” related to a particular place in your family history!)

Wednesday, October 29   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Ancestors Calling: Science, Synchronicity and Sources

Presented by Judy Nimer Muhn

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Our ancestors want us to find them!  Using our intuition, developing our luck, creating vision boards and using classic detective techniques, YOU can have their help and do thorough genealogical research.  Learn how to tap into some key scientific principles and hands-on techniques to drive your discoveries.

Wednesday, November 5  

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

What the Law Put Asunder: Divorce in America

Presented by Sara Cochran

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Historically, divorce in the United States was rare, but not unheard of. This class considers changing laws and social attitudes as they relate to marriage and divorce, how those laws and attitudes affect our research and the records, and provides tips for determining if there was a divorce and accessing those records.

Wednesday, November 12

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Point of Origin: How to Find Your Ancestral Village

Presented by Lisa Vogele

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Don’t know where overseas your family originated from? This presentation covers a variety of sources to explore to locate your ancestor’s point of origin before arriving in the United States. Examples and strategies will be provided including: resources for locating town of origin, strategies for name changes, tips for boundary changes, and overcoming handwriting & language challenges.

Wednesday, November 19

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

What’s New in Genetic Genealogy

Presented by Karin Borgerson

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

The landscape of genetic genealogy is always shifting. Explore recent updates from DNA testing companies and third-party tools to make the most of DNA for genealogy.

Wednesday, April 2  

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

“Beyond the Hints”- Digging deeper into other search options available in FamilySearch & Ancestry websites

Presented by Beth Swartz

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Using online search options available at FamilySearch and Ancestry can offer diverse research tools beyond their main hints. FamilySearch includes options like recommended tasks, recent views, a catalog of genealogies, books, records and Full Text search. Ancestry provides access to military records, public trees, and collections. Exploring these can uncover valuable sources often missed by automated suggestions.

Wednesday, April 9  

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Cemeteries and Funeral Homes

Presented by Lisa Gorrell

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

There is more to cemetery research than online cemetery sites such as Find A Grave. Learn how to find these other records, what to do when visiting a cemetery, and how funeral home records can add to the family story.

There is no class on April 16,

Wednesday, April 23

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Discovering African American Ancestry

Presented by Beth Swartz

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Researching African American ancestry blends traditional genealogy with unique historical challenges. The 1870 Federal Census, the first to list African Americans by name, is a key starting point. Earlier records, such as the Freedmen’s Bureau, probate documents, and slave narratives, can help trace enslaved ancestors and their last owners. Understanding historical context, including Freed People of Color and U.S. Colored Troops service, is essential for uncovering these rich and complex family histories.

Wednesday, April 30

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Putting Your Learning to Work: Get the Most from an Educational Opportunity

Presented by Mary Kircher Roddy

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Genealogists are constantly learning. Societies and libraries around the world offer webinars and courses galore. With each opportunity you take, you spend your most precious resource – your time. How can you decide what to watch and how to get the most out of any educational opportunity? Discover ways to make what the presenter told you part of your research toolbox.

Wednesday, May 7

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Who ‘Owned’ Solomon? A Case study of 19th Century African American Research Presented by Janice Lovelace

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Many African American researchers struggle to break through the brick wall of slavery.  This presentation looks at techniques to identify the slave-holders of Solomon through the use of land, probate and court records.

Wednesday, May 14

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Packrat or Genealogist? Effective Methods for  Organizing Your Family History Research

Presented by Lisa Alzo

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Are you drowning in a sea of papers, documents, old photographs and other research materials?  This talk will cover how to organize family history documents, photographs, etc. for quick retrieval. Traditional methods and computer technology will be featured along with ways for distributing/sharing this information with others.

Wednesday, May 21 

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Wills & Probate Records for Genealogy Research

 Presented by Claire Smith

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Wills and probate records are some of the richest sources of documents for researching your ancestors. These records contain an abundance of details about an individual’s life, often proving the key to resolving a tough problem. Find out how to use them to break your research brick walls.

Wednesday, May 28

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

The Nuts and Bolts of Accreditation

Presented by Jenny Hansen

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Have you ever wondered about earning a professional genealogy credential? Learn more about the nuts and bolts of the process during this hour. You will learn some of the details about what is required and how to best prepare for earning the Accredited Genealogist credential.

Wednesday, January 8      

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Citations. Why Did it Have to Be Citations?

Presented by Sara Cochran

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Citations are a necessary part of genealogical research. With the right approach, they don’t have to be the scary part!

Wednesday, January 15    

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

EXPLORING – The Gilbert Cope Collections on FamilySearch

Presented by Steven W. Morrison

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Gilbert Cope was “father of genealogical research in Pennsylvania.” His surname collection – scrapbooked records on thousands of surnames. He prepared the first accounts on many early families and twice traveled to the British Isles to abstract English Friends records. In America, Cope saved numerous Quaker meeting records from destruction. Explore FamilySearch to discover if Cope also researched – YOUR Quaker ancestor.

Wednesday, January 22    

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Black Civil War Veterans in Washington State

Presented by Cynthia Wilson

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

In the late 1800s, the new state of Washington promised peace and prosperity to new settlers. At least thirty-three African American men who had served during the Civil War answered the call. Paul Barrows, a former legislator from Mississippi, established the Calvary Baptist Church of Spokane. Gideon H. Stump Bailey became the first African American justice of the peace in Franklin. Allin Alfred Hawkins, born into slavery, became one of the wealthiest African American farmers in the Yakima Valley. In her presentation, author Cynthia A. Wilson will tell the stories of these men and other courageous African American veterans who settled in Washington State after the Civil War. Ms. Wilson’s book, “Black Civil War Veterans in Washington State” was published recently in June 2024.

Wednesday, January 29    

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Jumping the Pond: Connecting Immigrants to Their Homeland

Presented by Mary Kircher Roddy

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Are you and your ancestors tired of hanging out in US records? Ready to get back to Europe? In this presentation Mary Roddy will cover a methodology for finding your ancestor’s place of origin. You’ll learn about a host of records that might provide a location or clues toward finding one. Mary’s got a spreadsheet trick for squeezing the most out of passenger lists and a couple of ideas for when all else fails. Finally she’ll present a couple of case studies where she connected immigrants back to their home in Europe.

Wednesday, February 5    

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Meet Your New Research Assistant: AI for Genealogists

Presented by Sara Cochran

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Discover how AI can act as your personal research assistant. This class will introduce you to AI tools like ChatGPT and FamilySearch’s full text search, offering practical tips and techniques to save time, find hidden records, and enhance the accuracy of your family history research.

Wednesday, February 12  

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Ten Things Every Eastern European Genealogist Should Know

Presented by Lisa A. Alzo

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Learn how to maximize your Eastern European genealogy research with the ten key things to know before you even begin. Topics to be addressed: Tips for planting your family tree online, determining names and places, pinpointing places, the best online databases for getting what you need and practices for citing sources and recording information, and what to expect when you cross the pond.

Wednesday, February 19  

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

A Demographic Study of Siroke, Slovakia in the 1800s

Presented by Mike Kocsik

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Censuses and Church records are great sources to find ancestors, but taken as a whole, these documents can provide a wealth of statistical information about a population. I have collected such data for one of my ancestral hometowns, Siroke in Eastern Slovakia, to build a picture of the daily life my great-grandfather knew as a boy before he came to America: occupations, family sizes, at what age people married, how long they lived and causes of death, etc. Lacking any direct stories about my older ancestors, this is a good way to present a picture of their world. Although it is one small farming town in a small country, the picture of peasant life is probably similar to towns all across Europe just before the Industrial Revolution.

Wednesday, February 26  

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Using Irish Naming Convention to Discover the Family of Thomas Delaney in Mid-Nineteenth Century Ireland

Presented by Susan McKee

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Thomas Delaney was the father of Catherine “Kate: Delaney who married Henry Burge on 5 November 1878 in Dublin, Ireland.  Catherine was born about 1860-62 in Queen’s County (present day County Laois) in Ireland and died 24 March 1909 in Dublin.  To learn more about Thomas, evidence was gathered from researching the life and family of his daughter, Kate and her husband Henry.  This evidence identified a specific geographical location to focus the search for records for Thomas.  This case study shows how Irish naming convention can be used as a powerful tool to analyze and predict family names and aid in the search for family units in Irish records in the mid to late 1800s.

Wednesday, March 12

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

YOUR ANCESTOR’S OCCUPATION – Exploring the 1821 Irish Census

Presented by Steven W. Morrison

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

In Ireland all of our ancestors had an occupation. While some might later change their name, few changed their trade or means of making a living. When used in combination with other factors, an occupation can be a powerful tool to help identify OUR ancestor, among the hundreds of same named Irish immigrants. Explore the occupations outlined in Irelands’ 1821 Census for the town of Ballyhaise in County Cavan. It’s records are among a handful of remaining census fragments, which were not destroyed by the Public Records Office fire in 1921.

Wednesday, September 18       

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Using the Research Wiki to Start Foreign Research

Presented by Jenny Hansen

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Starting research in a new country is a daunting task, especially when foreign languages, cultures and customs are considered.  With the development of the FamilySearch Research Wiki, detailed online help is always available.  This class will show what tools the wiki can offer anyone starting research in a foreign area.

Wednesday, September 25

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Exploring Your Hispanic Roots

Presented by Beth Swartz

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Basic research techniques using online resources to follow your family in the US and Mexico.

Wednesday, October 2     

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Using Collateral Relatives

Presented by Claire Smith

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Have you ever been unable to find the parents of an ancestor? Learn effective strategies to go beyond using your direct ancestors by going sideways to research your collateral ancestors. Learning about relationships across your family can help you reveal ancestors beyond your brick walls.

Wednesday, October 9     

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Hopping Down the Paper Trail

Presented by Sara Cochran

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

The records our ancestors left behind often lead us to other records, and sometimes take us down a rabbit hole. Learn how to scour those records for the next clue, and how to prioritize those clues so that you stay on track.

Wednesday, October 16   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Intuitive Genealogy: Ancestral Healing Practices and Your Family Tree

Presented by Joseph Anderson

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

For millennia human cultures have established and maintained robust relationships with their ancestors through traditional practices. In this class you’ll learn how these practices are being revitalized in contemporary society, and how they can complement your own genealogical explorations. We’ll look at the use of focused and structured imagination to connect with ancestors known and unknown, and to deepen your understanding of the ways they live on in you.

Wednesday, October 23   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Show, Don’t Tell: Creative Nonfiction Writing for Genealogists

Presented by Lisa Alzo

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

As genealogists, we often focus on facts and uncover so much information that our research produces nothing but boring lists. But do you really know what happened between the dashes of your ancestors’ lives? How can you share that information in a compelling way? Learn how to use creative nonfiction writing techniques to produce a “can’t put down” family history.

Wednesday, October 30   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

New Frontiers in Genealogy

Presented by Lisa Alzo

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and the Metaverse. You may have heard these terms on the news, but what do they have to do with genealogy? This session will demonstrate how these emerging technologies will shape a new frontier in family history including how we research our ancestors and share their stories.

Wednesday, November 6  

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Missing: Reward! Locating Widows, Spinsters, and Bachelors

Presented by Sara Cochran

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Have some of the folks on your family tree disappeared?  Pick up some new ideas on how to find widows and never-married adults and then watch these techniques in action in three short case studies.

Wednesday, November 13

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Finding Treasures in NewspaperArchive

Presented by Mary Kircher Roddy

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Newspapers are a fabulous resource to learn more about your ancestors. The National Genealogical Society has recently partnered with Storied to make NewspaperArchive a free benefit of an NGS membership. Learn how to use this website to fill in the details of your ancestors’ lives.

Wednesday, November 20

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

MyMaps: Create a Map of Your Family’s Migration West

Presented by Janet O’Conor Camarata

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Create a private Google map to illustrate your family’s migration path.  Pin their locations, enhance by adding text, pictures or photos, links, and layers. Save to your story of your family or to illustrate your family’s book.

Wednesday, April 24

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

From a Box in the Closet to a Treasured Family Heirloom

Presented by Sara Cochran

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

If you’re overwhelmed by the collection of photos your family has accumulated, you’re not alone! After a brief history of photography, we look at organizing techniques, digitization basics and options/ideas on what to do with your photos so they can be enjoyed by generations to come, instead of collecting dust in the box.

Wednesday, May 1

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Bagging a Live One: Reverse Genealogy in Action

Presented by Mary Roddy

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Mary will show you how to find distant relatives, perhaps ones you never knew existed. You will come away with the skills to target specific people and to find their contact details. Great for finding missing friends and cousins or for locating family members to fill out your DNA “dance card.”

Wednesday, May 8   

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Becoming the Ancestor

Presented by Beth Swartz

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

“Becoming the Ancestor” is about planning for your genealogy when you’re gone. Deciding what to do with it and who’s getting which items or documents. I also discuss identifying items, papers, etc that you want passed on to younger generations, friends or donated to a society. Genealogy wills and getting your wishes down on paper so your family knows your intentions. This is not legal advice, seek advice from an attorney or estate planner in your local jurisdiction.

Wednesday, May 15 

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Across the Pond to Scotland

Presented by Winona Laird

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

The church, government and the wars all play a part in tracking Scottish genealogy and Scottish migration to other countries. Included is the search for baptismal, marriage and death registers plus the census records of Scotland. In addition, the clans of Scotland, the structure  of family and kinship, are important in discovering Scottish genealogy.

Wednesday, May 22 

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Disaster Proofing Your Research

Presented by Sara Cochran

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

Family historians spend years gathering and compiling records, photographs, and family heirlooms to preserve the past and guide the future. Let’s talk about ways to ensure that all this hard work isn’t lost in any number of potential disasters.

Wednesday, May 29

10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Virtual Class)

Pruning Your Family Tree

Presented by Jenny Hansen

For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org

We grow up hearing stories of ancestors and poring over old family files. But how much of that information is really true?  Whether you are trying to crack family mysteries or just starting your own original research, this class will show you how to verify your family tree. Learn how to eliminate potential relatives and how to embrace the true stories of your past