“I would highly recommend Rebecca Koford as an instructor for IGHR Course 1 (or any course). She does just as well teaching complex subjects as she does the simpler concepts of beginning genealogy. This course was excellent for both beginning and intermediate genealogists.”
“Wish I took this course sooner.”
“Despite researching for several years I felt I needed to go back to basics and learn how to research and organizing. And boy did this course fill in the gaps! More helpful than I expected.”
Course One – Methods and Sources
- Registration is now open through Monday July 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. – register here!
- Maximum: 25 students
- Virtual classrooms using Zoom
- All courses come with a digital syllabus
- Students will receive a digital certificate upon course completion
Course Coordinator
Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG®, CGLSM
Description
This course focuses on genealogical research strategies, organization, core record groups, and analysis. It is a foundational course to give you tools to begin or re-invigorate your research with classes including early American handwriting, developing research plans, land records, behind the scenes with censuses, court records, probate, church, military, and workshops and analytical challenges all throughout the week. Classes are taught by experts in the field; no prior genealogical experience is necessary.
Prerequisites, textbooks, and other student information
Course prerequisites:
Experience with internet searching and Word documents or equivalent
Course requirements:
Sign up for free accounts with https://www.familysearch.org/ and https://mdlandrec.net/ for use during the course.
Required books:
Christine Rose, Courthouse Research for Family Historians: Your Guide to Genealogical Treasures, 2nd edition (2019).
Recommended books:
Val Greenwood, The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 4th ed. (2017); Genealogy Standards by the Board for Certification of Genealogists, 2nd ed., revised (2021).
Course Schedule (All times listed are Eastern Time)
Monday | ||
10:30 – 11:00 | Orientation & Welcome (Koford) | |
11:00 – 12:15 | Advances in Genealogy & Research (Koford) | |
12:15 – 12:45 | Break | |
12:45 – 2:00 | Organizing Research & Project Management (Koford) | |
2:00 – 3:30 | Lunch | |
3:30 – 4:45 | Introduction to Land Records (McGhie) | |
4:45 – 5:15 | Break | |
5:15 – 6:30 | Introduction to Law for Genealogists (Spratling) | |
Tuesday | ||
10:30 – 11:00 | Review of Assignment (Koford) | |
11:00 – 12:15 | Reading Early American Handwriting (Koford) | |
12:15 – 12:45 | Break | |
12:45 – 2:00 | Behind the Scenes in Federal & State Census Records (Koford) | |
2:00 – 3:30 | Lunch | |
3:30 – 4:45 | Urban Research (E. Powell) | |
4:45 – 5:15 | Break | |
5:15 – 6:30 | Introduction to Military Records (Strauss) | |
Wednesday | ||
10:30 – 11:00 | Review of Assignment (Koford) | |
11:00 – 12:15 | Introduction to DNA (Stanbary) | |
12:15 – 12:45 | Break | |
12:45 – 2:00 | Vital Resources: Birth, Death, & Marriage Records (Koford) | |
2:00 – 3:30 | Lunch | |
3:30 – 4:45 | Maps & Gazetteers (Kashuba) | |
4:45 – 5:15 | Break | |
5:15 – 6:30 | More than Just Wills: Probate Records (Koford) | |
Thursday | ||
10:30 – 11:45 | Courthouse Records (Koford) | |
11:45 – 12:15 | Virtual Courthouse Tour (Koford) | |
12:15 – 12:45 | Break | |
12:45 – 2:00 | Workshop: Researching at the Courthouse (Koford) | |
2:00 – 3:30 | Lunch | |
3:30 – 4:45 | Cemeteries & Funeral Homes (Koford) | |
4:45 – 5:15 | Break | |
5:15 – 6:30 | Introduction to Church Records (Hoffman) | |
Friday | ||
10:30 – 11:45 | Oral Interviews & Family Treasures (Koford) | |
11:45 –12:00 | Break | |
12:00 – 1:15 | Workshop: Organizing is Analyzing (Koford) | |
1:15 – 1:30 | Break | |
1:30 – 2:45 | Course Summary & Discussion (Koford) |