Webinar Topics

The following table contains a list of topics covered by UGA webinars in the last two years.  Click on the topic to see the webinars.

Genealogical Bioinformatics is how future challenges in geneetic genealogy will be addressed through Artificial Intelligence. Learn about this emerging field of inquiry, how its methods have already begun to address long-standing problems in genetic genealogy, and where we go from here.

Professional genealogy involves more than research. It is also a business. From handling taxes and client contracts to editing reports, marketing services, and responding to calls for presentations, genealogists face a wide range of administrative tasks that consume valuable time. AI tools can lighten this load. In this webinar, we will explore practical, real-world applications of AI for professional genealogists, from classifying expenses for Schedule C deductions, to reviewing contracts, to tailoring proposals to fit conference submission requirements. We will also discuss privacy and other concerns. Attendees will leave with specific ideas for using AI effectively, freeing time for the more satisfying research tasks.

Running a genealogy business requires more than excellent research skills. Professional genealogists are also content creators, website designers, marketing experts and report writers, to name a few examples. This webinar shows professional genealogists how to use AI as a practical business partner. Learn how well-crafted prompts can generate SEO-friendly website copy, develop branding ideas, and draft newsletters & social media posts. We’ll also explore how AI can streamline report writing, create citations, and repurpose research into client-ready narratives and images. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for saving time, boosting visibility, and strengthening their professional brand.

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.

AI is changing the way genealogists search records, read handwriting, translate documents, analyze information, summarize sources, and organize research. Using an interactive timeline, this session traces major AI developments alongside research tools, company innovations, conference presentations, and educational resources. Attendees will explore specific uses of AI in family history, see how these tools and techniques have developed over time, learn how to find relevant and current resources, and discover practical ways to apply AI more effectively in their own research.

Dive into the world of NotebookLM, Google’s “personal AI-based research assistant,” and discover how it can supercharge your genealogical research. Imagine having an assistant that not only organizes your notes, books, journal articles, and original records but also helps you make connections and draw insights from them. In this session, we’ll explore how to maximize the productivity boost from NotebookLM, turning complex data into clear stories and actionable discoveries. Whether you’re managing stacks of family records or sifting through historical documents, NotebookLM could be the tool that transforms your research journey.

Identifying DNA matches is only half the work — the other half is proving on paper how each match connects to your research subject. Without a documented descent chain, a promising match is just a name on a list. This session demonstrates a generation-by-generation methodology for building source-cited descendant trees that qualify DNA matches as genuine collateral relatives rather than coincidental connections. Using a real case study involving six sibling lines descending from a single proposed ancestor, attendees will see how to select matches strategically across disparate lines, establish each genealogical link with cited documentation, and use DNAPainter’s Coverage Estimator to measure how much of a proposed ancestor’s genome has been recovered at each stage of the project. Attendees will leave with a replicable framework for turning a DNA match list into structured, documented evidence.

Many genealogists are intrigued by the power of DNA but feel overwhelmed or uncertain about how to interpret and integrate results into their family research. This session introduces the VISIBLE Framework — Voice, Identity, Spotlight, Inner Work, Belief, Leverage, and Elevation — as a practical, confidence-building approach for working with DNA matches and narratives. Participants will learn to move beyond hesitation and into empowered research practices, equipping them to explain findings to family, navigate sensitive revelations, and tell stories that are accurate, inclusive, and compelling. Designed for beginner to intermediate genealogists working with autosomal DNA. ⸻ Learning Objectives: 1. Learn how the VISIBLE Framework can help genealogists build clarity, confidence, and communication skills when working with DNA results. 2. Gain practical strategies for interpreting autosomal DNA matches and building trees that integrate genetic evidence. 3. Understand how to communicate sensitive or unexpected findings ethically and effectively with family or community members.

Find connections to distant ancestral lines by utilizing the entirety of your DNA match list and the matches of your known relations.

Learn how to use clusters in a strategic way to identify your DNA matches and their shared ancestral line. Ancestry’s new Cluster Tool is a powerful visual way to group matches. Broaden your genetic network for an ancestral line by including inferred matching in your analysis.

Have you tried to figure out who some of your DNA matches are but struggle to make progress? Learn to use some free websites, newspapers, and social media to identify some of those people you don’t know in your match list.

AncestryDNA has tools available to assist in evaluating your DNA results, and additional tools available with an Ancestry Pro Tools plan. A demonstration of each tool’s results. Pro Tools is only $10 per month and can be added for one or more months.

Review the basics of genetic genealogy, the three major test types, and the offerings of five leading companies. Learn the key factors that impact your results and compare each company’s strengths, limitations, and favorite features. See some third-party tools you can use to extract even more information from DNA test results.

This webinar will explain why ethnic ancestry has become such a hot feature and the many reasons why results just don’t match expectations. We will talk about why Native American ancestry is so rarely found and why results vary by company. We’ll then compare the results of 8 different DNA tests for one person of European ancestry. Some other examples will include siblings, an African American, and a person of Mexican ancestry.

Learn how Y-DNA testing of suitable males can trace and confirm paternal lines in your family tree. See how to choose the right test and how to work with your genetic matches. Examples cover STRs, SNPs, genetic distance, match thresholds, Tip reports, the Y-DNA tree, haplogroups, group projects, account settings, and more.

Learn how adoptees and others find biological parents and siblings through DNA testing. Review the case that started it all and see today’s recommended strategies. View examples of surprise discoveries and see the tools used to identify relationships.

You submitted your DNA test kit and have a list of matches a mile long. You’ve sent messages. It’s been days/weeks/months/years and you’re still waiting for a response. Now what? How can you learn more if your matches have gone radio silent? This presentation provides tips and techniques for learning more about genetic matches with or without their active participation. This presentation includes the case study “The Case of the Reluctant Cousin.”

Genealogists who overlook or underutilize the MyHeritage DNA test miss out on many great tools. Using examples from his account, Richard will demonstrate these features and show how they can be used productively by genealogists, adoptees, and anyone curious about their family history or ethnic background.

I know all my close relatives! Who is this person? By incorporating different resources used in conjunction with one another (matches at any site), along with photographs, public records, Google, social media, locations, etc, learn an entire methodology to attacking your mystery DNA matches. Yes, you can figure out who that DNA mystery match is!

When your DNA test results show unexpected relationships, how do you move from the initial shock to the serenity of knowing the truth about your relationships.

DNA test results can be overwhelming. This case study recounts using the shared matches within my DNA results to narrow in on my maternal grandfather and fill in my family tree.

Tanner explains the addition connections that are possible with doing Y-DNA analysis.

With the identification of the Golden State Killer in 2018, FIGG has received a great deal of media attention. This webinar discusses the basics of FIGG, from evidence collection and DNA profiling to the final suspect or unidentified human remains identification.

Navigating the Darker Side of Family History explores the delicate process of uncovering and handling sensitive genealogical discoveries. This presentation delves into the emotional and ethical challenges genealogists face when confronted with family secrets, from unexpected DNA results to historical transgressions, offering strategies for respectful communication and thoughtful preservation of family stories.

Genealogy has become a popular pastime and a growing profession worldwide. The majority of the public likely develop an interest in genealogy through the various family history themed television series, consumer DNA tests, the creation of an online family tree or membership of a local family history society. Many of the digital collections made available by libraries and archives is in response to this growing interest in family history. Despite this public interest, can we claim the existence of such a thing as public genealogy? This presentation will encourage discussion regarding public interactions with genealogy and the steps those of us who work as professionals can take to encourage positive public experiences.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping genealogical research through tools such as record indexing, handwriting recognition, DNA analysis, and automated family tree building. While these technologies offer speed and accessibility, they also raise significant ethical concerns that require careful consideration. This presentation examines key ethical dilemmas associated with AI in genealogy, including issues of privacy, informed consent, data ownership, algorithmic bias, and the risk of amplifying inaccuracies. Special attention is given to the ethical use of AI with DNA data, sensitive historical records, and information about living individuals, as well as the potential impact on persons who were adopted and marginalized communities. Through examples, participants will explore how reliance on AI can blur the distinction between evidence and inference and obscure the provenance of sources. The session emphasizes the importance of transparency, accountability, and human judgment, offering ethical frameworks and best practices for responsibly integrating AI into genealogical research.

Genealogists spend their careers uncovering the past, but what about protecting the present for the future? With baby boomers downsizing and families facing the question of what to do with records, heirlooms, and decades of research, genealogists are uniquely positioned to guide clients through “legacy planning.” This session explores how professionals can add this service to their practice without venturing into financial or legal territory. Learn how to help clients identify what is worth preserving, organize family papers and digital files, prepare research for archival donation or inheritance, and craft meaningful narratives that endure. Attendees will gain practical strategies for packaging legacy planning as a service, from heirloom inventories to final family history books. By becoming trusted partners in preservation, genealogists ensure that the stories, artifacts, and research entrusted to them will outlast a single lifetime.

So often there are unanswered questions and brick walls surrounding a person on your family tree. This presentation focuses on techniques and good practices on how to obtain and organize all of the information that you can locate on a person and, hopefully, help to answer your questions and break through the brick walls. Topics include: home sources, online family trees, accepting hints, online collections, local repositories, and much more. Time to focus in on one person and see how much you can add to their profile!

You were given family history pictures that have been handed down for years. They pile up in folders and boxes in the garage and basement. The quantity or disorganization keeps you from digging into these priceless documents. You know your family history is located in them, but you have been unable to unlock the mystery because of the clutter. In this class, six steps will be discussed to help you move your pictures from a tower of clutter to photo box of clean.”

Are you trying to decide between a class, conference, or self-paced study to grow your genealogy skills? It is time to become the genealogist you aspire to be. This session will guide you to becoming a successful genealogist by finding the ideal learning path for you. We will explore critical questions to ensure you have the best fit for your unique learning goals. We will assess the power of networking, discussing how to connect with others through Facebook groups, student circles, and study groups. Understanding how your personality and lifestyle affect your learning choices is key. From books and videos to formal institutes, this session will empower you to craft a personalized, practical education plan that matches your goals, budget, and schedule. You will gain the tools to craft your own personalized genealogy education plan that aligns with your future in genealogy. Perfect for genealogists at any level, from beginner to advanced, looking for new ways to learn effectively.

In this webinar we will discusses the various roles of a professional genealogist: Researcher, Author, Lecturer, Publisher and Educator and how they help to make a living in genealogy.

Although some have declared blogging dead, it is still alive and well and can be a successful avenue to drive traffic to you and your business. In Blogging for Clients: Bringing in Customers a Post at a Time, learn how and why a blog can be a great way to showcase your knowledge and skills to potential clients.

Need a website? In this engaging session, we’ll dive into the must-know tips for professional genealogists looking to hire the right web developer. Whether you’re dreaming of a sleek blog, an interactive family tree, or a robust database, knowing how to navigate the tech world is key. Packed with practical advice and real-world examples, this talk will empower you to confidently bringyour genealogical projects to life online.

This workshop is one part tough love, one part strategic pep talk, and one part practical data. I have been collecting data for years from official and unofficial sources on what the going rate is in our industry. In addition to what to charge, a bigger question can be HOW to profitably bid projects. The single biggest threat to your business is not charging enough, and I will help you overcome imposter syndrome to raise your rates and frame your proposals for success.

This presentation will cover topics like networking, cooperation with other professionals, subcontracting and referring clients to other professionals, how to network and what are the benefits for your business. We aim to discuss when it’s better to subcontract, and what can be the challenges of managing subcontractors. Moreover, we will talk about different channels to succeed in networking and boosting your business or kickstart your new venture.

Planning in advance is the key! With checklists, recommendations for travel planning and equipment to take with you, research BEFORE you go and helpful hints from the speaker’s own travel experiences, you can be prepared and make the most of your trip.

Improve your presentation skills with storytelling techniques such as effective use of your voice, gestures, and methods to capture and keep your audience’s attention. Humans are hardwired to respond to storytelling. Incorporating elements that tap into this mode of communication can help presenters resonate with their audiences in a more positive way, ensuring that audiences will be more likely to remember both the material being presented and the presenters themselves.

Create a stunning family history book on all budgets. This class will guide you through designing and printing professional-looking books. We will explore the pros and cons of software options—InDesign, Canva (with AI tools), and Blurb Book Wright. Learn best practices for layout, and participants will receive my layout checklist. Also, know when to outsource the job. Finally, compare the amazing printing options available today from Amazon, Blurb, Shutterfly, BYU’s print and mail service, and other heritage book printers. This class will review current cost and quality breakdowns. You will leave ready to plan your book project, select the best software for your needs, and choose a printing service. No design experience is needed. Rhonda Lauritzen is a professional biographer who has written more than a dozen books, four of which have been or are in the process of being traditionally published. She has field-tested all the services and software options shared in this class and will share practical approaches.

This presentation will explore the process of putting people in a historical context by looking beyond genealogical records.

You do a deep dive into the records you find. But have you ever thought about doing a deep dive into you photos? Who else in the picture? What are they wearing? Is there anything in the picture that may indicate they were part of an organization (medallions, lapel pins, rings, etc.). Does anything in the background tell you something? Allyson explains using your photos in your research in detail.

Crossroads wants your work! We will discuss the essentials you need to know when writing for Crossroads and review the writing and editing process. Learn how you can craft articles readers can’t resist. Feel free to bring your questions.

Most married women in the US appear on records with their husband’s last name. What records can we turn to in our pursuit of maiden names? Follow the case of Mary Ann Wolf to learn how to find and confirm a maiden name.

Struggling to distinguish between same-named men in historical records? This webinar presents practical strategies for separating their identities, including building timelines to separate identities, analyzing deeds and probate records for distinguishing details, applying the FAN Club principle to map each individual’s unique social network, and using DNA evidence when the paper trail falls short.

Records tell us what happened, but maps tell us where and why. Historical maps allow us to visualize the world our ancestors inhabited. This session introduces helpful tools for digital cartography and addresses navigating some of our favorite map sites, such as Old Maps Online and Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. We will share the basic steps to use Google My Maps and Google Earth to plot your own research, plan a heritage trip, or create engaging, visual family narratives.

Behind every family story lies a kernel of truth waiting to be uncovered. This webinar explores how to apply the Genealogical Proof Standard to evaluate and investigate family lore. Through two case studies, you’ll see how to corroborate or correct ancestral stories using documentary and contextual evidence. Learn how this process not only reveals the facts but also adds richness, accuracy, and depth to your family’s history.

We all have family stories that have been passed down through the generations. Some accounts are true with missing details, some narratives are idealized versions of the past, and some are rumors that have morphed over the decades. Using the Henry and Eliza Perrin Channel family tales, we will discover where to look for reliable records and how to use research methodologies and modern technologies to validate, add to, or disprove our family lore.

As you research further back in time, you will find that the English alphabet has evolved over the years. Sometimes, it doesn’t even look like English! Learn how to read the handwriting on old documents in this paleography class for genealogy.

Struggling with reading old handwriting? Forgot what that document your great-uncle said was important actually says? Is that Latin?! Learn where to start with those old papers here! Paleography or paleography is the study and analysis of historical writing systems, the historicity of manuscripts and texts, deciphering and dating of historical manuscripts, including the analysis of historic penmanship and handwriting script. This presentation will be a brief introduction to paleography as used by genealogists primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. We will also discuss transcribing which is meant to ensure that you and others can understand a document. Transcription is the term for copying or translating what a document says in a much more legible way.

The Daughters of the American Revolution Library in Washington D.C. isn’t just for descendants of Revolutionary War soldiers! As one of the largest genealogical libraries in the country, the Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR] Library has something for everyone tracing their family history. This presentation will give an overview of the resources available both on-site in D.C. as well as digital tools and resources available for free from wherever you normally do your family history work. Come find out how your family history is on our shelves!

As Director of the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (gen-fed.org), our presenter has unique insights to the records preserved by our National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This lecture will introduce a little of the history and explain how records are organized. Where major genealogically-rich collections are located and a peek into the NARA Catalog will round out this presentation.

Published court opinions exist for both federal and state courts starting before the Revolution and running to today. These records can help us trace families, document events and tell stories. Learn how to use free entry portals such as Case.law and CourtListener to find your ancestor.

Civil War soldiers often left a rich genealogical paper trail. Many of these records are tucked away at the National Archives in Washington DC. Learn what records are available for your ancestors only at the National Archives, what records are online already, and how to access all of them. These records may unlock some of the family stories that have been forgotten over time, as well as break down a brick wall or two!

Bounty land was the reward for service to veterans from the Revolution through the Mexican War. Applications for bounty land from veterans or their heirs are bursting with genealogical information, but researchers rarely see it because records for the War of 1812 onwards are only found at the National Archives. Learn about the value of these records, how to access them, and the project to digitize them and make them publicly available.

How do you research a family when vital records do not exist? This presentation will go beyond the conventional focus on vital records by exploring other types of documentation that exist for New York State during this time period.

The Digital Library on American Slavery is composed of 3 main projects — slave petitions, runaway slave advertisements, and bills of sale. Slave petitions cover all southern states and include county and state-level petitions. Runaway slave advertisements and bills of sale have an NC focus. Once these concepts are introduced (runaway slave advertisements and bills of sale), similar projects for other southern states (and beyond – don’t forget, not just the South or US enslaved individuals) will be discussed. Recent years have seen an explosion in the records that researchers can easily access to pursue their formerly enslaved or FPOC ancestors.

Angie will use a case study.

This case study demonstrates how one man’s naturalization influenced his Italian born son and wife’s life experiences. Understand how to link immigration records together to discover more records such as passports, visas, C-files and A-files.

Starting your German genealogical research can seem like a daunting task. You may face significant challenges like language and script barriers, navigating centuries of changing borders and governance, and knowing where and how to find records. This class is your starting guide, designed to help you work back and successfully trace your ancestors back to the Germanic regions of Europe. We will cover how to read the Old German Scripts, strategies for effectively moving from U.S. records back to the European origin, and where to look for records once you get there. Knowing where to start is the first step to successfully unraveling your German family history!

The majority of ancestral Scandinavians shared a small number of given names and surnames. Following ancestors without becoming mixed up in the patronymic pot can be a challenge. This class will provide guidance for focusing on your ancestor and eliminating other possible family lines. We will discuss methodology specific to Scandinavian research to enable your success.

This class will discuss the methodology of researching in Catholic Parish records in European countries. By looking at Portuguese record examples, we will examine Catholic baptism, marriage, and death records. This will include what information is contained in the documents, how to find them, and how to read in a language you may not know.

Denmark is a complex country with both differences and similarities to its Scandinavian peers. These differences may not be visible to the unwitting beginner researcher, and the distinctions will help inform research. Using considerations of mapping, history, geography, linguistics, genealogical context, and Danish record examples, this presentation is jam-packed with Danish information. Crash Course In Denmark describes topics imperative to understanding the where, when, & how of records for Scandinavian family history beginners. A handout contains details in and akin to the presentation so learners walk away with future research stimulated.

The Old Poor Law, or Elizabeth Poor Law, was a national system of poor relief in England and Wales between the late sixteenth and early nineteenth centuries. This webinar covers the main poor law records generated between 1601 and 1834 and how they reveal details about property relations, migration, illegitimacy, marriage, and employment. We will also discuss how to access the records and use them effectively in genealogical research. Content, examples, and case studies will concentrate on the years between 1662 and 1834.

Many family historians have a child that they can’t trace. Sometimes they can’t ascertain how their family came to be living in a particular location in the nineteenth century, with no records to tie them to earlier generations in the locality. Both of these situations could be explained by looking at any pauper children in the family and how they were cared for. Boards of Guardians in England and Wales were responsible for thousands of orphaned or abandoned children and they used a variety of methods to fulfil this responsibility, from emigration, to boarding out with families. Once children were old enough to work they were often apprenticed or sent out to work in factories and the fishing industry. This talk will examine the care of these children, what records we might find about them and how we might trace why they entered care and what their life was like. Stories will be shared from research into the children of West Derby, Liverpool, England.

This webinar gives an introduction to Dutch records.

Scottish Clans, Tartans and Coats of Arms. If you have Scottish ancestry you’ve probably wondered what clan you belong to, or which tartan you should be wearing. We’ll discuss what the clan system was as well and whether it still has relevance today, talk about the basics of heraldry and who can and cannot use coats of arms, and look at rules around the use and wearing of tartans. Finally, we’ll learn about how linking into a Scottish noble family can help progress your own genealogy.

In this session, Wendy guides attendees through the intricate world of Jewish genealogical research—where languages shift, borders blur, and myths that “all the records were lost” persist. Drawing from her own family’s extraordinary journey—one that began with a simple question and ultimately revealed a family secret tied to Murder, Inc., the infamous Jewish Mafia—she demonstrates how persistence and methodical research can uncover truth in the most unexpected places. You will learn essential strategies for Jewish genealogical research—how to successfully overcome gaps in sources and records, interpret shifting identities, and follow clues across languages, cultures, and time. You will also gain an understanding of how to piece together fragmented stories, trace Ashkenazic roots hidden under “Russian” or “Polish” labels, and bring to light the vibrant histories once thought irretrievable.

Discover how to research your English and Welsh ancestors without leaving the United States. A discussion of how to get started researching within parish, vital, census, probate, and more will help you get started!

This is an intermediate class discussing a range of immigration records. We will review influential naturalization laws, what types are records are available for genealogical research beyond ship manifests and naturalization, and how to get records you cannot find online. Includes handouts.

During the Chinese Exclusion Era in the United States(1882–1943), restrictions were placed on Chinese entering the country. The changing and complicated laws made it especially difficult for women and children to immigrate. The Chinese living in Hawaii did not become subject to these Exclusion laws until 1900 after becoming a territory of the United States. Kathy will explore how this might have made their experience different from the Chinese in the mainland United States. Through case studies, she will highlight women and children that were able to immigrate, and how they were navigated the tangled laws.