Calendar of Events

Session Schedule with Videos and Handouts

Find an Event

Day 1: Wednesday, October 26

Watch entire day on YouTube 

(Most handouts and presentations are in PDF format)

Session #

Session

Presenter

Presentation Materials

 

Welcoming Remarks

David S. Ferriero

Archivist of the United States of America

Video

1

Introduction to Genealogy at the National Archives

Claire Kluskens will discuss basic genealogical research techniques using Federal records at the National Archives, including census, immigration, and military service and pension records.

Claire Kluskens

Archivist

National Archives in Washington, DC

Video

Presentation Slides

Handout 1 of 3

Handout 2 of 3

Handout 3 of 3

2

 

The Best National Archives Records Genealogists Aren't Using

This session explores underutilized National Archives records of interest to genealogists. The records include: Relinquished, Rejected, or Canceled Land Entry Case Files; Rural Rehabilitation Loan Case Files; War Risk Insurance Court Case Files; and Veterans Home Case Files.

Lori Cox-Paul

Director of Archival Operations

National Archives at Kansas City

 

Video

Presentation Slides

Handout 1 of 3

Handout 2 of 3

Handout 3 of 3

3

National Archives Innovative Online Resources and Tools to Help with Your Genealogical Research

The National Archives has many tools to help with genealogical endeavors for both novices and experienced researchers alike. We will walk you through History Hub (historyhub.archives.gov), NARA’s brand new Q&A platform designed to help you crowdsource your research and get direct help from experts, as well as show you how to navigate our resources for genealogists on archives.gov and social media.

Sarah Swanson and Kelly Osborn

Information Technology Specialists for Web Content

National Archives at College Park

Video

Presentation Slides/Handout

4

You too can be a Citizen Archivist! Getting the most out of the National Archives Catalog

The National Archives offers many opportunities to participate in our online Catalog through citizen archivist projects such as tagging, transcription, and citizen scanning in our Innovation Hub. These projects help make content in our Catalog more discoverable to researchers. We will talk about how you can contribute to these projects, how these contributions can help you and other users locate records online, and how citizen scanning can benefit your research. We will also discuss genealogy resources available in the National Archives Catalog and how the Catalog can help you jumpstart and refine your genealogical research.

Suzanne Isaacs and Meredith Doviak

Community Managers for the National Archives Catalog

National Archives at College Park

Video

Presentation Slides

Handout

5

Department of State Records for Genealogical Research

David Pfeiffer will discuss Department of State documents including information on passports, visas, birth, marriage and death reports, and State personnel records.

David Pfeiffer

Archivist

National Archives at College Park

Video

Presentation Slides

Handout

6

Grave Yards and Genealogy: American Battle Monuments Commission

Ryan Bass discusses the American Battle Monuments Commission’s (ABMC) records useful for genealogy as well as the agency’s history, organization, and administration. Documents covered in this session include interment, decimal subject files, lists of soldiers dead or wounded, headstone inscription and interment records, and cemetery and memorial files.

Ryan Bass

Archives Technician

National Archives at College Park

Video

Presentation Slides

Handout

 

Day 2: Thursday, October 27

Watch entire day on YouTube 

 

Session #

Session Title

Presenter

Presentation Materials

7

Nonpopulation Census: Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Social Statistics

How many acres of wheat? How many cows? And more! Claire Kluskens describes the details you may learn about your ancestors' lives from the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 census schedules of agriculture, industry, mortality, and social statistics, as well as the 1935 census of business.

Claire Kluskens

Archivist

National Archives in Washington, DC

Video

Presentation Slides

Handout 1 of 2

Handout 2 of 2

8

The Morning After – Changes as Reflected in Morning Reports (Army and Air Force)

Theresa Fitzgerald will explain how the morning report collection can help a family historian trace a veteran's movements and daily unit activities throughout their time in the war. The reports show where the veteran went, what battles he participated in, and any changes in status he may have had on a daily basis. She will also explain the limitations regarding access to these records.

Theresa Fitzgerald

Supervisory Reference Archivist

National Archives at St. Louis

Video

Presentation Slides/Handout

9

The Iwo Jima Flag Raisers Chaos, Controversy and World War II U.S. Marine Corps Personnel Records

The personnel named in the historic Rosenthal photo of the flag raising on Iwo Jima were recently corrected by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). From their official military personnel files (OMPFs) of the USMC, Bryan McGraw will provide an overview of the events associated with the flag raising, and what types of material can be found in a USMC OMPF of this period.

Bryan K. McGraw

Access Coordinator

St. Louis and Midwest National Archives

National Archives at St. Louis

Video

Presentation Slides/Handout

 

10

What's New in the Lou: A Look at the Latest Accessions at the National Archives at St. Louis

David Hardin will provide an overview and insight into Navy General Courts-Martial Records, Naval Aviation Training Jackets, Army Research and Experimental Case Files, and Vietnam War era Mortuary Files from Tan Son Nhut and Da Nang Mortuary. This session will provide a general review of these genealogically rich records, including the types of materials found and how to go about accessing the records.

David Hardin

Reference Archivist

National Archives at St. Louis

Video

Presentation Slides/Handout

11

Faces of the National Park Service

Cara Moore will spotlight some of the leaders of the National Park Service using Official Personnel Folders (OPFs) of the Department of the Interior maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration at St. Louis, MO. Included will be a spotlight of the various projects and initiatives that were created in the initial years of the National Park Service. OPFs from our archival holdings will provide detailed information concerning the early innovators in honor of the agency’s 100th year.

Cara L. Moore

Reference Archivist

National Archives at St. Louis

Video

Presentation Slides/Handout

 

Closing Remarks

Ann Cummings

Acting Executive Research Services

National Archives at College Park

Video

 

All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted.

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