The following classes will be taught by Thomas MacEntee at the 2012 Salt Lake Christmas Tour, held December 4 through 10, 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
10 Ways to Jumpstart Your Genealogy
Whether stuck in a rut with genealogy research for the past year or just wanting to expand the ways in which family history can be pursued, follow these 10 touchstones and you’ll be surprised at the results. Covering every aspect of genealogy and even those you never considered, your genealogy research will not just jump, it’ll leap!
Acres of Records: The Homestead Act
Learn how The Homestead Act of 1862 lured citizens of the United States to procure federal lands West of the Mississippi River. The application and qualification process, as burdensome as it was for our ancestors, produced a bumper crop of documents for use by genealogists and family historians.
Copyright and Genealogy
Are you aware that certain documents and photos that are part of your family history research may be restricted by copyright? Don’t panic – you can still use them in your genealogy! But understand how to determine if an item is copyrighted and how it can and can’t be used. Learn the basics of US copyright law and how you can still use copyrighted items such as document, articles and photographs as part of your genealogy research.
Facebook for Genealogists
If you’ve decided to set up a Facebook account not only to stay in touch with family but to expand your genealogy experience, learn the basics of the program including how to protect your privacy, how to make friends on Facebook, and how to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Google Docs for Genealogists
Learn how to use Google Docs – a free application complete with spreadsheets, word processing and more – to your advantage while performing genealogy research. Discover how to create new documents, import documents from your hard drive, and how to use the basic functions of each component.
Managing Your Genealogy Data
Managing a folder of data files is much like cleaning out that junk drawer at home: you keep putting it off and putting it off. And once you do organize the items, you vow to never let it get that way again, right? Learn how to manage your genealogy data so items can always be located easily and quickly. You’ll also learn some best practices and good habits to make sure you keep those data folders clean and clutter-free!
Playing Nice in the Genealogy Sandbox
Genealogy is all about connecting with your ancestors. As part of this process, we often need to connect with other genealogists and share research. It isn’t always easy as it seems! Learn the best ways to connect with other family historians and share resources including research, documents and research strategies. Discover the various methods of locating other researchers and the best practices to ensure that your work is shared and credited in a responsible manner.
Privacy and Your Ancestors
With all the news about privacy, identity theft and the role of access to vital records, have you ever considered that in 2012 most of us (at least here in the United States) have more privacy than our ancestors? As a result of living in the a digital age ruled by the Internet and social media, is there really less privacy than in prior years? In fact, the reverse is true. Learn what type of information about your ancestors was public and how to find it!
Staying Safe Online
Are you hesitant to use popular social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter or even Pinterest and share your genealogy research because of issues involving personal information and privacy? Learn how to safely navigate these sites and still get the most out of them!
The Genealogy FAN Club (Friends, Associates and Neighbors)
While you may think you’ve hit a brick wall with your research, have you tried using the FAN Club strategy? F is for Friends, A is for Associations and N is for Neighbors. Learn why researching those in-laws, “shirt-tail cousins” and others who may not be a direct-line ancestor can help you break down your genealogy research brick walls.
Register today while there’s still space. Space is limited, and the 28th annual Salt Lake Christmas Tour is filling up fast!
For more information about the Salt Lake Christmas Tour, see the website.
