2024 National Archives Genealogy Series
Find an EventMay and June 2024
Free and no registration!
Videos and presentation materials remain available after the premiere date.
Chat in real time with the presenters during each session's video premiere.
⇒ About the program
⇒ Participation instructions
⇒ YouTube playlist
⇒ Schedule with session descriptions, handouts, and videos
Condensed Schedule (more details below)
| May 21 at 1 p.m. ET | Welcome and Introductions |
| May 21 at 1:05 p.m. ET | Passport Records: Passport Applications at NARA, 1790s–1925 |
| May 28 at 1 p.m. ET | After Their Service: Tracing the Lives of Native American Army Scouts |
| June 4 at 1 p.m. ET | Captured German Records Related to American Prisoners of War During World War II |
| June 18 at 1 p.m. ET | Alien Files (A-Files): Researching Immigrant Ancestors at the National Archives |
| June 25 at 1 p.m. ET | World War II Enemy Alien Records Related to Japanese Americans at the National Archives |
| June 25 (following the 1 p.m. session) | Closing Remarks |
SCHEDULEVideos premiere on event day and remain available.
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Tuesday, May 211 p.m. ET |
Welcome and Introductions
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Tuesday, May 211:05 p.m. ET |
Passport Records: Passport Applications at NARA, 1790s–1925Claire Kluskens
Passports are documents that prove a person’s identity and citizenship and have been required for most foreign travel since 1941. This lecture will discuss the genealogical value of U.S. passport applications and related records, 1795–1925, that are held by the National Archives and Records Administration, and will focus on records that are available online. |
Tuesday, May 281 p.m. ET
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After Their Service: Tracing the Lives of Native American Army ScoutsCody White
Military exploits of the U.S. Army’s late-19th century Native American scouts are well known, but tracing their post-service history can be challenging. Using Hairy Moccasin (Crow) as a case study, this talk will explore records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs to flesh out his long and, at times, tragic life. Records and methods discussed can be used by anyone tracing Native genealogy from 1880 to 1930. |
Tuesday, June 41 p.m. ET
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Captured German Records Related to American Prisoners of War during World War IIRachael Salyer
The majority of Captured German Records in the National Archives Collection of Foreign Records Seized (Record Group 242) are microfilmed copies of original German records that have been returned to Germany. However, this record group also includes original records that relate to Allied airmen and American prisoners of war (POWs) during World War II. This presentation will include an overview of these records, most of which are in German, and offer guidance on how to access and search the records effectively, even if you do not read German. The presentation will also provide historical background and related resources. |
Tuesday, June 181 p.m. ET
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Alien Files (A-Files): Researching Immigrant Ancestors at the National ArchivesElizabeth Burnes
Learn about the Alien Files (A-Files), a rich source of biographical information for family research. The A-Files contain United States immigrant documents generated and collected since the mid-20th century with a wealth of data, including visas, photographs, applications, correspondence, and more. Participants in this session will understand who should have an A-File, discover online search methods to determine whether records are available at the National Archives, and gain the skills to successfully place a request. |
Tuesday, June 251 p.m. ET
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World War II Enemy Alien Records Related to Japanese Americans at the National ArchivesDavid Castillo, Ruth Chan, and Katharine Seitz
Unlike the more familiar experiences of Japanese Americans incarcerated by the War Relocation Authority (WRA), many researchers may not be aware of a separate group investigated and detained under the Enemy Alien Control Program. This session will guide researchers through the types of records available, offer strategies for navigating our holdings, and share stories from these records that are stored across three National Archives offices. |
Tuesday, June 25(following the 1 p.m. session) |
Closing Remarks |
About the Program
Every year, the National Archives hosts the Genealogy Series, a free, educational genealogy event broadcast on YouTube. The sessions offer family history research tools on federal records for all skill levels. Join thousands of family historians participating during the live event. Broadcasts of the program sessions will take place in May and June. All are welcome!
Participation Instructions
You are invited to attend, participate, and ask questions during each session's YouTube video premiere. Presentations are pre-recorded videos broadcast on NARA's YouTube channel. Throughout the broadcast, you will be able to ask questions, and the presenter will respond in real time. After the initial showing, the video and handouts will remain available on this web page and YouTube.
- Attend via YouTube
- Participate in chat, by first logging into YouTube and then typing your comments into the chat section
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Follow us on Twitter at @USNatArchives and join the Genealogy Series conversation using #GenealogySeries2024
Captioning and Transcript
- Captioning is available by selecting the CC icon at the bottom of the YouTube video.
- Transcripts are available by sending a request to KYR@nara.gov.
- If you require an alternative or additional accommodation for the event, please email the Know Your Records program at KYR@nara.gov.
All events listed in the calendar are free unless noted.