The following lectures are available to choose from for your society or organization:

“Basic Genealogy and a Genealogical Society”
30-minute presentation; 2-page handout provided.

This is an excellent choice of programs for community groups (i.e. Sertoma Clubs) to use during a luncheon meeting. This presentation covers the basics for getting started into researching your family tree and the importance of a genealogical society. There is plenty of time allowed for questions and answers.

“Cemeteries: Let’s Take a Picnic”
60-minute lecture includes time for Q & A; 1-page handout.

Cemeteries are wonderful places to conduct genealogy research; and I believe your work is not complete if you haven’t done all there is to do in cemeteries. Details are given on how to do cemetery research; obtaining sexton’s records; the proper ways to do a tombstone rubbing, photograph, or transcription; and what supplies are needed in your cemetery “picnic basket.” Oh, and don’t forget to bring the food!

“Don’t Overlook Church Records: A Grave Mistake”
60-minute lecture includes time for Q & A; 1-page handout.

Church records are excellent sources to obtain the dates and places of birth, death, marriage, and more. At times, these records may be your only source of proof, especially in the cases of burned courthouses or prior to vital registration. Learn how to find church records and more; plus learn a bit about graveyard tombstones.

Are you still not finding that particular church record that will hopefully provide a date, a name, a place for your problem ancestor? It might be a matter of not simply finding a church and its records; but the need to go beyond. Most of the church denominations have archives where records have been placed. This new lecture (February, 2003) should take the mystery out of this under-used source. Explanation into the location of a few church denomination archives will be given and what you need to know about them.

“Correspondence: Successful Letters That Get a Reply”
45-minute lecture, time allowed for Q & A; 2-page handout.

Because many of us do not live in the area(s) that our ancestors did, we have to rely on letters to obtain many things for our genealogy. We can’t afford to waste time and money with a poorly written letter. With a 98% effective rate on return replies, this presentation gives you the 4-step, tried-and-true approach to successful correspondence. Let’s get it right (“write”) the first time!

“Finding Females: Maiden Names”
50-minute lecture, time allowed for Q & A; 2-page handout.

One of the most difficult task a genealogy researcher has is finding the maiden names of their female ancestors. It’s apparent in early laws that women did not have names. But ah...they did! Learn some ways of how to overcome the barriers in finding your female ancestor’s maiden names. They weren’t always known as “Mrs. Smith!”

“Genealogy Standards for the Computer”
50-minute lecture, time allowed for Q & A; 2-page handout.

Just as we have specific standards for hand-writing the names, dates, and places on our Ancestor Charts and Family Group Sheets; there are standards to follow for the computer. Find out why there needs to be computer standards, what the standards are, who decides these standards and where you can find the location of them, and how to follow through with the standards.

“How to Prepare for a Successful Trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake”
60-minute lecture includes time for Q & A; 3 or 4-page handout.

Success is in the preparation. This lecture will give you step-by-step instruction into planning a successful research trip not only to Salt Lake, but to any location. Details will also be given about the renovated Family History Library.

“The Ins and Outs of Hiring a Professional Genealogist”
60-minute lecture includes time for Q & A; No handout.

Hiring a professional genealogist can be scary and cause anxiety for some people. This lecture will take away those feelings by explaining what should be done prior to and during the process of hiring a professional, websites and directories for locating a professional, the meanings of those initials behind a name (postnominals), explanation of certified vs. accredited vs. pro, and a basic look at what a professional genealogist does. We also take a look at the expectations on the part of you (the Client) and on the expectations of the professional.

“Internet Genealogy - Part 1”
50-minute lecture, time allowed for Q & A; 1-page handout.

The Internet has been around for a long time and the growing popularity of genealogy seem to make these two go hand-in-hand these days. The Internet is just one tool to use in your research; and this lecture will take you step-by-step through three popular websites for getting at databases online.

“Land Records: With Emphasis on the Rectangular Land Survey System”
60-minute lecture includes time for Q & A; 5-page handout.

A treasure of genealogical information lies in land records that many researchers do not take advantage of. This program lecture will show you how to find deeds and various other items in land records, discusses indexing, the importance of and using maps with land record research, and a detailed explanation of locating the land of your ancestors in the areas where the Rectangular Land Survey System is used.

“Military Records: Emphasizing Revolutionary and Civil Wars”
60-minute lecture includes time for Q & A; 2-page handout.

Military records are important to your research as there are large amounts of information and documents contained in them. An elusive ancestor may be caught by the clues found in these records, especially during the period of 1775-1875. Did I know that grandma had three additional siblings prior to my obtaining her father's (my great grandfather) Civil War military records? NO! This program will show you things that can be obtained in military records, help you to learn how and where to obtain them, and will cover the Revolutionary and Civil Wars (Union and Confederate). Let's march in rank together to discover a goldmine!

“Naturalization: The Process of Becoming An American”
60-minute lecture includes time for Q & A; 2-page handout.

Do you know where to find your ancestor’s Petition for Naturalization? What is a Declaration of Intent? Do you have your ancestor’s Certificate of Naturalization or what is actually in the record books? Oh my gosh, what sources are available to even find out your ancestor’s citizenship information? These, and more, questions are answered in this detailed lecture on the process of becoming an American.

“Probate: Where There’s a Will (or No Will), There’s a Way”
60-minute lecture includes time for Q & A; 4-page handout.

Whether or not there’s a will, there is Probate. A vast amount of information is contained in a Probate/Estate packet. This presentation will show you how to locate these records and what you need to know in doing probate research. It will also explain the probate process and what records are created at each step of the process.

“Prove It! What Is Your Evidence?”
solid 60-minute lecture; 7-page handout.

Professional genealogists compile pedigrees with the same care as if their research is to be presented in a court proceeding. Then there are many amateur genealogists who are satisfied to copy and cite genealogical data from the most unreliable sources, or from the Internet, without any attempt to verify facts in the more reliable records. This lecture will help you to learn more about what EVIDENCE is in regards to the genealogy world. The meanings of the most commonly used terms are presented, examples of records that should be searched will be discussed, and case studies are shown for you to determine what evidence is.

“Publishing Using PAF (Personal Ancestral File software)”
60-minute presentation; 2-page handout provided.

“Self-Publishing: The Birth of My Eichler Book”
60-minute presentation; 6-page handout provided.

“Understanding the Published Pennsylvania Archives”
60-minute lecture includes time for Q & A; No handout.

Most of the original colonies (states) had authorized publication of their court records in a series called “archives.” Pennsylvania was one of those states who published. This lecture explains what you can find in the series and where they are located.

The following topics are also available for programs:
Census
City Directories
Newspapers
Passenger Lists

Call Valerie Eichler Lair at 720-886-9096 or email customerservice@valsroots.com for further information and fees.

2007 Speaking Engagements