2021 Schedule of Upcoming Lectures:
Saturday, March 13, 10am
The Murder of Rhoda Jones
Clallam County Genealogical Society
Tuesday, May 18, 1pm
"I've Done the DNA Test: Now What Do I Do?"
Whidbey Island Genealogical Searchers
Until further notice, all presentations are virtual, using Zoom or Go To Meeting.
Presentation Topics:
The Murder of Rhoda Jones: How a DNA Test Solved an 1883 Mystery (and what I learned along the way)
In early June of 1883, Rhoda Jones was found next to the railroad tracks a half mile from her home, her skull crushed. The newspapers called it suicide, and the case was published widely in MIchigan newspapers. However, the coroner's jury "found it curious" that her stockings were clean and she wore no shoes. Learn how DNA testing of one cousin led to her parents' names and a motive for murder, and proved the identity of her first husband, who deserted during the Civil War.
Don't Trust the Transcript: The Perils and Pitfalls of Online Research
Internet research can be deceptively easy, but there are pitfalls you should be aware of: gaps in databases, errors in transcription, same-name individuals and more. Learn how to develop a sharp eye in order to make your family history more accurate.
I've Done the DNA Test - Now What Do I Do?
DNA testing has become affordable for millions of people and is now an essential tool for anyone tracing their family history. Learn how to interpret your ethnicity results, sort your DNA cousins into “networks”, contact relatives, and download your raw data to transfer to other databases. Case studies will illustrate brick-wall breakthroughs, including unknown parents.
Beyond the Internet: Finding Family History Records That Are Not Online
It’s a myth and a fairy tale to think that everything related to genealogy and family history is online. Sources exist outside of the internet that can solve the hardest family puzzle – in letters, photographs, microfilms, archives, libraries and university collections. Professional genealogist Claudia Breland, author of Genealogy Offline will demonstrate the types of records and where to find them, drawing on over 40 years of research experience.
Case Studies in DNA
Results from DNA testing can solve family mysteries, disprove traditions, and lead to new avenues of research. In this presentation I discuss five stories, including:
1. The Murder of Rhoda Jones (Michigan, 1883)
2. Another Leaf on the Family Tree (Michigan, 1860)
3. The Indian Princess (Mississippi, 1910)
4. The Orphan at the Convent (Italy, 1880s)
5. The Four Sisters of Crystal Lake (Michigan, 1930s)
Beyond Ancestry.com: Searching for your ancestors online
Ancestry.com is one of the largest genealogy databases on the internet today, and they have the advertising dollars to make themselves known. However, there are many, many other online resources (most of them free) that can supplement the information you have on your family and fill in the missing puzzle pieces. We’ll talk about census records, vital records, online newspapers, state archives and libraries, cemetery records, military records, and more.
Discover Your Family History: an introduction to genealogy
Interested in tracing your family history but don’t know where to start? This session will walk you through the early steps of this exciting pastime. Learn how to start filling out pedigree charts and interviewing relatives before you sit down at the computer, discover free sources online and at the library, and explore the different types of books and magazines to help you on your way. For beginners.
DNA and Genealogy:
Genealogists have been researching using paper records for centuries, and new technology has only made it better. With DNA testing becoming available and affordable, Opportunities await for those who are seeking answers to questions about their heritage. Learn (in plain English!) the basics of DNA, how it can help you discover your roots, the best companies to test with, and how to join with others to find a common heritage.
Genealogy in the Computer Age
Searching for your ancestors used to mean keeping paper records, writing letters, and visiting courthouses. With the advent of widespread computer use, genealogical research has entered a new dimension. This session will teach you how to choose and use genealogy software, online family trees, genealogy databases, and more.
Finding and Using Historic Newspapers
There are many genealogy databases and family trees online where you can discover the names, dates and places of your ancestors’ lives. That’s the skeleton – now let’s put flesh on the bones and faces to the names by discovering the stories your ancestors lived. We’ll talk about the proliferation of newspaper databases online (both free and subscription) and how to obtain newspapers that are not online. Birth announcements, wedding notices, obituaries, and other stories illustrate the lives of those who came before us.
Fees for Lectures and Presentations:
I am available to give presentations to your library or genealogy society across the country. All my lectures are given in person, with a PowerPoint presentation and paper handouts, which will be emailed to the organizer at least two days before the event.
My rates vary, according to distance traveled, time needed to prepare, and number of presentations. My basic fee for presentations in Western Washington libraries is $150-250 for a two hour presentation.
My rates vary, according to distance traveled, time needed to prepare, and number of presentations. My basic fee for presentations in Western Washington libraries is $150-250 for a two hour presentation.
All content (c) Claudia Breland, 2021