September 6 @ 2:30 p.m. PT (online)
Free!

The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is pleased to host this GenTalk as part of our monthly series of talks.

Presenter:  Colette Hokanson, AG® and FamilySearch Research Specialist

In today’s world of digitized records and searchable databases, it’s easy to think that every answer to our family history questions is just a click away. Yet some of the most meaningful discoveries – those that bring our ancestors’ stories to life – still require us to step beyond the computer screen.  

This session explores the irreplaceable value of onsite research: walking through cemeteries where generations rest, paging through local archives filled with documents never scanned, and swapping stories with relatives during spontaneous visits. These experiences reveal family history in ways no search bar can.

Colette Hokanson, AG® and FamilySearch Research Specialist, will share her personal experiences finding missing family from the mountains of Norway to the valleys of Wales. She’ll illustrate how combining traditional onsite research with the power of innovative tools—including artificial intelligence—can break through decades-old brick walls and open new paths of discovery.

Registration: gfo.org/gentalk