Here is the list of Fall 2026 Free Virtual Classes at Fiske Genealogical Library
Kenneth V. Peterson
Education Coordinator
Fiske Genealogical Library
Wednesday, September 16
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
Presented by Sara Cochran
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
How much does spelling matter when we’re dealing with historical records? Why are there so many variations, anyway? Have you ever wondered if that record for Abraham Miller is really for your Abram Meuller, or why you can’t find an ancestor in the Springfield marriage records? This presentation takes a deeper look at how relying too much on spelling has the potential to trip up our research.
Sara Cochran is a full-time professional genealogist with over thirty years of research experience. She especially enjoys breaking down brick walls, discovering the stories of black sheep ancestors, and helping individuals preserve their photographic legacy. Sara holds a Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate, a Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science, and is an alum of the ProGen Study Group. She is a member of DAR and other lineage societies, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the Genealogical Speakers Guild. You can find her online at TheSkeletonWhisperer.com.
Wednesday, September 23
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
19th Century America: Cultural Changes and Their Effect on Records
Presented by Sylvia Tracy Doolos
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
America in the 19th century underwent geographic, cultural, and historical shifts that influenced recordkeeping, especially for women, African Americans, and immigrants. We will explore the century broadly to understand these changes.
Sylvia Tracy Doolos, owner of New Leaf Genealogy, is the President of the Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England Family History Society (WISE-FHS), and Past-President of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History (ISBGFH).
Wednesday, September 30
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
Grandma Nellie’s Scrapbook: Identifying and Interpreting Historic Photographs Presented by Tina Beaird
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
Many people become heirs to a box of unidentified family photos and have no clue what to do with them. Tina Beaird will offer solutions for identifying these ‘lost’ family members by demonstrating how to use genealogy sources in conjunction with observational techniques.
Tina Beaird, owner of Tamarack Genealogy, is the genealogy & local history librarian at a mid-sized Chicagoland public library. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Science degree with a specialization in Archives/Preservation, and is the First Vice-President of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, and board director for the Oswegoland Heritage Association.
Wednesday, October 7
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
The Art of Self-Editing for Genealogists
Presented by Pam Anderson
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
This presentation focuses on editing genealogical manuscripts. Elizabeth Shown Mills first wrote in Evidence! Citation and Analysis for the Family Historian, 1997, “Effective source citation is an art, not a science. No formula can cover all situations.” The same applies to the skill of self-editing, which must be honed. This presentation begins with assessing our genealogical writing as a whole, progressing to paragraph development and organization, then to sentence structure, and finally to word choice, using Evidence Explained and The Chicago Manual of Style as our guides.
Pam Anderson owns Anderson CoGen in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She began studying her family history in 2010, went professional in 2014, and obtained her Certification in 2018. Pam mentored ProGen 47 and GenProof 95; and taught self-editing classes for the Applied Genealogy Institute (2023, 2024) and the Association of Professional Genealogists (2024, 2025, 2026). She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, National Genealogical Society (NGS), and genealogical societies of New England, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, and Utah. Pam has written articles for and presented to these and many other local organizations. She received the NGS “2025 Family History Writing Competition” award and “2024 Award of Merit.”
Wednesday, October 14
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
Google for Genealogists
Presented by Tina Beaird
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
Google can be a useful tool for genealogical research. Utilizing services like google maps, google news and google books can make you feel like Indiana Jones. But be wary, google has some traps and pitfalls as well! Tina will discuss ways to get the most out of google so you can find your holy grail. This webinar will not cover specific uses of Google’s AI tool, Gemini.
Tina Beaird, owner of Tamarack Genealogy, is the genealogy & local history librarian at a mid-sized Chicagoland public library. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Science degree with a specialization in Archives/Preservation, and is the First Vice-President of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, and board director for the Oswegoland Heritage Association.
Wednesday, October 21
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
Prior to Departure: Uncovering Overseas Emigration Information
Presented by Lisa Vogele
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
Most genealogists focus on arrival records, but valuable clues often exist before an immigrant boarded a ship. Explore passports, emigration permissions, military clearances, police registrations, health certificates, parish records, censuses, departure lists, and other pre-departure sources that document the decision to leave. Through examples from Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Ireland, and beyond, learn effective strategies for locating and interpreting these records to uncover ancestral origins, migration stories, and clues that may help solve genealogical brick walls.
Lisa Vogele is a professional genealogist and certified travel advisor (CTA). She is the Chief Tree Climber at Travel Your Tree: Where Ancestry Meets Adventure, a full-service family history research, travel planning and tour operator. In 2016, Lisa authored Food & Folklore: A Year of Italian Festivals, a guide book to assist travelers with incorporating festivals into their itineraries and experience local culture through food and historic events. Her travel tips have been featured in the Huffington Post, 1000traveltips.com and her travel blog, LisaLovesToTravel.com.
Wednesday, October 28
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
Faith and Founding Fathers: Religion’s Role in America’s Story
Presented by Sylvia Tracy Doolos
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
Beginning with the American Revolution, religion has shaped our ancestors’ lives. Discover faith-driven events that can help unlock your family’s story.
Sylvia Tracy Doolos, owner of New Leaf Genealogy, is the President of the Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England Family History Society (WISE-FHS), and Past-President of the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History (ISBGFH).
Wednesday, November 4
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
FREE LAND: Homesteading on the Frontier
Presented by Tina Beaird
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed any qualified individual to claim up to 160 acres of free land. Over 1.6 million people rose to the challenge and claimed 270 million acres of land of which an estimated 17 million Americans are descendants. Original homestead claims are a fantastic collection of documents, including applications, land descriptions, citizenship affidavits and more. Learn how to access these great records and how they can fill in the gaps to your research.
Tina Beaird, owner of Tamarack Genealogy, is the genealogy & local history librarian at a mid-sized Chicagoland public library. She holds a Masters of Library and Information Science degree with a specialization in Archives/Preservation, and is the First Vice-President of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, and board director for the Oswegoland Heritage Association.
Wednesday, November 11
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
Navigating Ancestral Arrivals: A Genealogist’s Treasure Map to Immigration Records
Presented by Lisa Vogele
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
Your ancestors’ arrival in the U.S. is a key chapter in your family’s story—are you searching in the right places? This session will guide you through the intricacies of immigration records, helping you decode passenger manifests, interpret cryptic notations, and uncover the stories of those “Held for Inquiry.” With research tools, proven strategies, and real-life case studies, you’ll gain skills to track down elusive ancestors and bring their immigration journey to life.
Lisa Vogele is a professional genealogist and certified travel advisor (CTA). She is the Chief Tree Climber at Travel Your Tree: Where Ancestry Meets Adventure, a full-service family history research, travel planning and tour operator. In 2016, Lisa authored Food & Folklore: A Year of Italian Festivals, a guide book to assist travelers with incorporating festivals into their itineraries and experience local culture through food and historic events. Her travel tips have been featured in the Huffington Post, 1000traveltips.com and her travel blog, LisaLovesToTravel.com.
Wednesday, November 18
10:00 am to 11:15 am Pacific Time – Fiske Genealogical Library, Seattle (Free Virtual Class)
Shaky Leaf Syndrome: Using Website Generated Hints More Effectively
Presented by Sara Cochran
For links to join the meeting and get class notes, select https://fiskelibrary.org
Indexing, optical character recognition, and computer algorithms make finding obscure records about our families easier than ever! Unfortunately, computers can’t distinguish between people of the same name who lived in different places or at different times. Using real examples, we’ll practice evaluating hints and attaching the keepers to our trees.
Sara Cochran is a full-time professional genealogist with over thirty years of research experience. She especially enjoys breaking down brick walls, discovering the stories of black sheep ancestors, and helping individuals preserve their photographic legacy. Sara holds a Boston University Genealogical Research Certificate, a Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science, and is an alum of the ProGen Study Group. She is a member of DAR and other lineage societies, the Association of Professional Genealogists, and the Genealogical Speakers Guild. You can find her online at TheSkeletonWhisperer.com.