Description: Hispanic research is especially fascinating because there are excellent record collections documenting births, marriage, and deaths, which have been preserved by the Catholic Church for hundreds of years and are now available online. We will use a case study from my wife's Hispanic ancestry to discover where to find the records and how to use them.

BIO: I was first introduced to family research over 30 years ago when I was told that my grandfather had traced our family back to the expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia in 1755. Then in 2015, while watching TV with my wife, a commercial came on for Ancestry DNA. My wife said, "I want to do that!" When the results arrived, I shared them with my 90–year–old father–in–law who responded, "I want to do that, too!" And so began my passion for genetic genealogy. I have since built a large family tree tracing my wife's ancestry through the Spanish Colonial period, from the Conquistadors through New Mexico and then to Southern Colorado. DNA results have led to several startling and unexpected discoveries for me and for my friends and now for my many clients.

Description: Irish research can be tricky, but knowing all you can about your ancestors in North America is the most important factor. Success can be achieved with a wee bit of luck and a good amount of research. Learn how to build a body of knowledge that will help you jump the pond!

BIO: Sylvia Tracy–Doolos has been interested in genealogy for forty years and working as a professional genealogist for over ten as the owner of New Leaf Genealogy. She is Past President of the International Society of British Genealogy and Family History, President of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England Family History Society (WISE–FHS). Sylvia is currently involved as a genealogical volunteer with both the Denver Public Library, and the Carbon Valley Library, and is an active member of several other genealogy societies, including LGS. She is a proud graduate of ProGen48 and has a B.A. in History with a minor in English focusing on linguistics so she could study how language changes affected record keeping.

Description: Over a decade ago, I set out on my first road trip to collect information about my ancestors and visit the places they lived. I jokingly refer to these as my "Dead Ancestor Tours" but I also visit living relatives. I wasn't completely unprepared for this three–week trip, but knowing what I do now, after many such trips, I could have accomplished more. The most successful trips come about because of preparation time, well spent. I will not be covering the National Archives or Library of Congress in this talk.

BIO: Eilene Lyon has spent decades researching families (hers and others) to piece together narrative stories about the past. She writes regularly on her blog, Myricopia (Meer–uh–COPE–ee–uh), and has published articles in local and regional genealogy and history magazines. A lover of the great outdoors, Eilene lives in Durango, Colorado, where she enjoys mountain biking, skiing, bird and plant identification, and hiking with her two enthusiastic mutts. She has a BS in Environmental Biology with additional qualifications in Geographic Information Systems, Chemistry, and Accounting. She also spent ten years as a licensed real estate broker. She shares her passion for family history by giving presentations on research, writing, and genealogy to local, regional, and national audiences, helping others to know their ancestors with greater compassion and historical context.

Description: Land records account for one–fourth of most family histories. Welcome to the Bureau of Land Management at glorecords.blm.gov. There are documents dealing with Cash Sales of land across the U.S. plus Military Bounty Land assignments and, after 1862, Homestead patents "to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain." Let's find your ancestors there.

BIO: Carol Darrow has been a professional genealogist for the past 25 years. She currently teaches free Beginning Genealogy classes on Zoom and facilitates a WriteNOW family writing group also on Zoom. Check cogensoc.us to register.