Best Irish Genealogy Websites
Live Webinar
Format: Live Webinar Registration
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YOU’LL LOVE THIS IF:
- You have roots in Ireland but don’t know where to start your research
- You’re looking for new websites to learn about your Irish ancestors
- You want to know the differences and similarities between websites on Irish heritage
Date: Thursday, March. 28
Starting Time: 7pm EST/6pm CST/5pm MST/4pm PST
Presenter: Donna Moughty
Duration: 1 hour
Price: $49.99 ($39.99 early bird until 3/21)Call it the luck of the Irish: Whether your ancestor was a farmer during the Potato Famine or immigrant who passed through Ellis Island, there’s a multitude of resources for finding information on your Ireland roots. In fact, so much is available that sometimes it’s difficult to navigate exactly which websites are the best route to the Pot o’ Gold you’re seeking. In this hour-long presentation, if you have family from the Emerald Isle, we’ll reveal the best websites for your research. Webinar attendees receive a free copy of Family Tree Magazine’s article “Singing a New Tune: Overlooked Sources for Tracing Irish Ancestors”.
Plus: Get live advice on your real-life research quandaries! All attendees have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A session at the end of the webinar.
What You’ll Learn:
- Best websites for tracing your roots back on the Emerald Isle
- Top sites for finding your Irish family post-emigration to the US
- Leading resources to further your research into Irish records
ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Donna Moughty is a Professional Genealogist and former Regional Manager for Apple Computer who has been conducting family research for over 20 years. She teaches classes for beginners and lectures on a variety of subjects including Internet, Irish research and computer topics. In addition, she provides consultations, research assistance and training. She attended the National Institute for Genealogical Research at the National Archives, the Third and Fourth Irish Genealogical Congress in Ireland, the Salt Lake Institute – Irish Research and the Institute for Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University where, in 2011, she was an Instructor for the Irish course. She is a member of Association of Professional Genealogists and the Genealogical Speakers Guild.REGISTRATION FOR THE LIVE SESSION INCLUDES:
- Participation in the live presentation and Q&A session
- Access to the webinar recording to view again as many times as you like
- 25+ page PDF of the presentation slides for future reference
- 6 pages of additional downloadable handouts: Singing a New Tune: Overlooked Sources for Tracing Irish Ancestors.
- Please note: You do not have to attend the live event to get a recording of the presentation. All registrants receive an email two business days following the live webinar with instructions on how to download the recording and handouts.
Please join GSSCC member Mike Epperson at the Scotts Valley branch of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries where he will teach you how to easily access Ancestry.com’s Library Edition (ALE). This will be a hands-on workshop so, if you prefer, please bring your laptop if you have one. Laptops, however, are not necessary to enroll in the course.
What is ALE?
Ancestry’s Library Edition (ALE) is a genealogical database designed to help you find your ancestors. The database was recently purchased by the Santa Cruz Libraries for public use – for beginning to advanced genealogists and family historians. You don’t have to be an expert researcher to find your ancestors. With just a little instruction, this FREE database will help you be off and running!
The next workshop is on Saturday, March 30, 2013.
The workshop will be from 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Look up census records, immigration records, etc. There are hundreds of types of records to help you build your family tree.
Again, this is a hands-on workshop. Bring your laptop if you have one.
The ALE database is now available at all ten of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. It’s not accessible from one’s own home, but visit any branch and see what family history you can uncover!
Hope to see you there!
Address:
Santa Cruz Public Libraries: SCOTTS VALLEY BRANCH
251 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
To register, please call the Scotts Valley Branch library at (831) 427-7712
Class size limit of 12.
This is a very popular workshop so please make your reservations early!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Co-Sponsored with Friends of
the Santa Cruz Public Libraries!
Speaker’s books will be for sale! All proceeds will help fund programs for the library like the ones listed here! (Click on the link to see what the purchase of a book can do for our community and our libraries!)
Titles of books for sale below! Just scroll to bottom of page!
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m
Santa Cruz Public Library, Central Location
(2nd floor meeting room)
224 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Speaker:
Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG
Lecture Topic:
Leaping to Erroneous Conclusions: What do the Records REALLY Say?
So often we look at a document and quickly determine what we think it means without giving further study to every part of the record and its interpretation. How often have we been led astray by not gleaning the correct clues? This lecture will take us back for another look. For example, are we interpreting the censuses right? The deeds? The dowers? The relationships? The estates? The tombstones? The newspapers? Are we misleading others? These topics are just a few of the many areas in which genealogists commonly jump to erroneous conclusions.
Come and see if YOU have been leaping to conclusions!
Christine Rose, CG, CGL, FASG is a Board-certified genealogist and a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists with many years of experience in the field of genealogy. She has authored a number of genealogy-related books to assist others. Her books have received top reviews for their content, clarity, and ease of reading. (Note: Fortunately for us, these books will be available for purchase at the lecture!) Christine has delivered hundreds of lectures in a variety of locations including national, regional, and local conferences such as the National Genealogical Society, the Federation of Genealogical Societies, GenTech, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, and the North Carolina, California, Southern California, San Diego, Sonoma County, Montana State, Kentucky, and Kansas State Genealogical Societies. She also was on the faculty of the National Institute of Genealogical Research in Washington, D.C. For many years she has been an instruction and coordinator for Alabama’s Samford University in its Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research.
Books written by Christine Rose which will be available for purchase at the meeting!
- Nicknames: Past & Present, 5th ed.
- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Genealogy, 2 ed.
- Genealogical Proof Standard, 3d ed.
- Courthouse Research for Family Historians
- Courthouse Indexes Illustrated
- Military Bounty Land (1776-1855)
The GSSCC is planning a repository tour of the Sutro Library!
On April 17, 2013, a comfortable bus (which includes a bathroom!) will pick up interested members and take them in style to the Sutro Library in San Francisco.
Testimonial:
No doubt about it, this is a genealogist paradise. Now, I love to research on the Internet, and can spend hours doing so, but sometimes things have to be done the old-fashioned way. The Sutro has been called the best genealogy library in the Western United States. The intensive collection covers all the U.S. and several other countries. The Sutro is the ideal place to do traditional research; there are rows and rows of books, microfiche readers, maps, and a card catalog to find everything.
It is a wonderful experience to open a fragile 19th century book and see some tidbit of information about a long-departed ancestor.-Terry T., Hercules, CA
Tentative Schedule:
- 7:30 AM pick up in Aptos
- 8:00 AM pick up in Santa Cruz
- 10:00 AM arrival at Sutro (approximate)
- 4:00 PM departure from the library
- 5:30 PM arrival in Santa Cruz
- 6:00 PM arrival in Aptos
More information about the resources at Sutro Library
Highlights of the collection include:
- California federal census population schedules for 1850-1930.
- Using federal census resources in the California History Room
- How to use the 1930 federal census in the California History Room
- 1852 state census, including indexes prepared by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
- Using the 1852 California state census in the California History Room
- Great registers of voters, arranged by county, for 1866-1898 and 1900-1944.
- A statewide index to the 1890 great register helps to fill the gap created by the loss of the 1890 census.
- City and county directories from as early as 1850.
- Telephone directories starting in 1899.
- Historical newspapers from around the state.
- Publications of county genealogical and historical societies.
- Compilations by California chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
- Specialized indexes and files created by the California State Library.
- A California death index covering July 1, 1905-1995 and a California marriage index covering 1949-1986.
The California State Library DOES NOT have birth, death, or marriage certificates. To obtain these certificates, contact the California Office of Vital Records or the appropriate county recorder’s office.
Unfortunately, the California History Section lacks the staff resources to provide family research services. Anyone is welcome to visit and use the resources. As an alternative, we can provide a list of private researchers who are familiar with our collection.
Note: Sutro Library materials can be accessed through the California State Library Main Catalog, and Sutro staff is available to assist in-house customers with the resources. Sutro items may be borrowed by requesting an interlibrary loan through your local public library.
More details to come!
May Lecture
Thursday, May 2, 2013
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Santa Cruz Public Library, Central Location
(2nd floor meeting room)
224 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
For more information, please call (831) 419-7244; Email: GenSocBlog@me.com
Speaker:
Christine Bell Green, PhD, PLCGS
Lecture Topic:
Researching Probate Records and Death Duties in the UK
As genealogists we are constantly challenged in determining family relationships with certainty. And the further back in time we go, the more complex the task. Our ancestors were surprisingly mobile, even in “the old country,” frequently making it difficult to find the parents of an adult child. Wills, when available, and, during the 19th century, “death duty” records can be instrumental in providing primary information about these family relationships. But where can these records be found and what information can one obtain from them?
When and where your ancestor died are the keys determining where to begin your search. England and Wales used one series of courts, Ireland another, and Scotland yet a third set. Prior to the middle of the 19th century, Ecclesiastical courts in England, Wales, and Ireland had jurisdiction. The wills might be found in the records of Prerogative Courts (the highest level), Diocesan courts, or “Peculiar” courts. Fortunately modern wills are a little easier to find. The inheritance laws in Scotland are different again. There’s a lot to learn! And yes, it can feel like one is wandering through a maze at times. But the rewards are frequently spectacular.
Chris Green is a professional genealogist who has been researching her British roots for over 10 years. She has a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies (PLCGS) from Toronto University, Canada, where she specialized in English and American records and is an alumna of ProGen. She is a member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and numerous other genealogical societies in the US and UK.
Chris lives in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, and is current president of the San Mateo County Genealogy Society and a former SMCGS VP of Programs. Chris is passionate about genealogical education. She teaches and lectures on a variety of genealogical topics in the Bay Area and is a member of the SMCGS team that runs two highly-successful seminars a year with nationally-known speakers. When not immersed in genealogy, Chris likes to travel with her husband to visit their family who live in England, Germany, New Zealand, as well as in the US. In her other life, Chris runs a marketing research company.
With Special Pre-Conference Events on May 7, 2013.
The NGS 2013 Family History Conference will be held at The LVH-Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mark your calendars for 8–11 May 2013.
The hotel and conference center are under one roof.
The LVH is adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center, ten minutes from McCarran International Airport, and convenient to I-15 and I-515. Self-parking is free. Valet parking is free but tip is expected. The Las Vegas Monorail begins at The LVH and carries passengers to six major Strip resorts.
Click Here to Learn All About This Fantastic Opportunity!
(Photos: Jennifer Cobas, gensocblog@me.com)




