2022 TxSGS Live!

TxSGS Live! features ten presentations by some of top speakers in genealogy on research techniques, records, DNA, and more. Each presentation will be followed by a live question and answer session. These presentations and the Q&A will be accessible by registrants through February 6, 2023.

Friday, November 4, 2022

Debbie A. Abbott, PhD

“Strategies and Techniques: Reconstructing an African American Family from Freedom to Slavery”

A case study will be used to help researchers learn the strategies and organizational skills needed to break genealogical brick walls. The importance of understanding the history of the area where you are researching and the need to carefully analyze various documents will be emphasized. The importance of using collateral and cluster genealogy in solving brick walls will be demonstrated. This presentation is designed to share the methodology used throughout the research process to reconstruct the ancestry and migration of an African American family in Ohio and Illinois with roots in Kentucky.

Bio: Deborah A. Abbott, PhD, is a professional genealogist specializing in genealogical methodology, manuscript collections, and African American family research. She holds both the BS and MEd degrees from Tuskegee University in Alabama and the PhD degree from Kent State University in Ohio. Dr. Abbott is coordinator of the African American Track at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR) and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). In addition, she teaches at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) and the Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR). Dr. Abbott also presents lectures and workshops for national, state, and local genealogy conferences, colleges, businesses, and libraries across the country.

Debra Dudek
“Mixers and Shakers – Tracing Bartending, Saloon Keeping, and Tavern Keeping Ancestors” Taverns and saloons have been a crucial American institution, and the men behind the bar were the social rock stars of their era. This program will lead you through the pre-prohibition records and resources which will help you add an extra shot of flavor into your research.
Bio: Debra M. Dudek is the Book Review Editor of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, Librarian of the Chicago Chapter NSDAR, board member of the Illinois State Historical Society, and the author of World War I Research Guide: Tracing American Military and Non-Combatant Ancestors.

Colleen Robledo Greene, MLIS
“Taking a Deeper Dive into Mexican Civil Registration Records”
Mexico implemented federal civil registration in the 1860s. Learn how to more effectively use these genealogically-rich records to research your Mexican and Tejano ancestors.
Bio: Colleen Robledo Greene, MLIS, is an academic librarian and college educator. She is a nationally-recognized speaker specializing in methodology, Hispanic research, libraries, and technology.

Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, MA
“Genealogy Door Locked? The Key May Be in Searching/Browsing Techniques”
Searching and browsing websites can seem fruitless; this program will assist genealogists in ways to unlock the ancestral doors.
Bio: Jean Wilcox Hibben, PhD, MA, former Southern California college speech professor, is a national speaker and author. A member of the DAR, she is the President of the Corona, California, Genealogical Society and Past-President of the Southern California Chapter of APG. She has worked on background research for two genealogy television programs. Presently, Jean hosts podcasts with a couple of other genealogists under the moniker Genealogy Journeys® (https://genjourneys. podbean.com).

Kevin Klaus
“Pre-emption Grants: A Bonanza for Early Texas Settlers and Genealogists”
Did your ancestor migrate to Texas in search of land and a new beginning? Preemption grants, also known as homestead grants, allowed Texas settlers to claim land on the vacant public domain of Texas provided they met established criteria. Many times, the files associated with these types of grants are an overlooked treasure trove full of great genealogical information! You may find when a person settled upon the land, names of the original grantees, and possibly the name of their wife. Unique stories or history may be discovered in these files such as murders, Indian troubles, or even an old marriage certificate. Learn about these early grants, how to search for them, and how to interpret the information in the files to claim your ancestor’s place in Texas history.
Bio: Kevin Klaus has a background in anthropology, archaeology, and public history from the University of New Mexico and currently is working towards becoming a certified genealogist. For the last 17 years, he has served as one of the lead researchers in the Texas General Land Office Archives and Records Program Area. During his time at the Land Office, he has searched the early Court of Claims files, German Collection, and archival collection to learn more about the history of Texas and discover the amazing personal letters of early soldiers and pioneers who helped settle our great state. Over the last few years, he has focused his attention and research on the German Collection and the early German settlers that came to Texas under the Adelsverein in the 1840s. In the process, he has honed his research skills by tracing his own family line that came to America in the late 1800s.

J. Mark Lowe, FUGA
“Missing People: Fractured Relationships, Divorce & Murder”
We often accept a person missing from a census enumeration without question. When should we look deeper, examine the clues, and ask more questions?
Bio: J. Mark Lowe describes himself as a lifelong genealogist. He is a full-time professiona genealogist, author, and lecturer who specializes in original records and manuscripts throughout the South. He serves as the Course Coordinator for
“Research in the South” at Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR),
Texas Institute of Genealogical Research (TIGR), and directs Southern courses for the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG). He has worked on numerous genealogical television series.

Bernard Meisner
“Beyond the Big Four – (Mostly) Free Resources for Genealogical Research”
The Genealogical Proof Standard calls for “a reasonable exhaustive search” for information regarding your family. After searching some or all the Big Four websites (FamilySearch, Ancestry, MyHeritage, and FindMyPast), what should you do? In this presentation I will demonstrate that there are numerous (mostly free) national, regional, state, and local resources that might provide the answers to your genealogical research questions.
Bio: Bernard Meisner, a popular speaker at Texas state and local societies, has been researching for over 30 years. He is a past president of the Mid-Cities Genealogical Society, a co-leader of the Dallas Genealogical Society’s German SIG, and is a member of the Texas State and the National Genealogical Societies.

Diane L. Richard, ME, MBA
“Death Records by a Different Name”
Let’s explore almost 30 unusual places where we might find documentation of death. We are not talking obituaries, cemetery records, probate records, death certificates, bibles, and the records most of us regularly pursue. We are talking of some of the many other records which were created to document your ancestors’ death – ledgers, societies, poor records, funeral homes, and much more.
Bio: A professional genealogist since 2004, Diane has authored over 500 genealogy articles. In 2019 she authored Tracing Your Ancestors – African American Research: A Practical Guide. She has delivered hundreds of talks about the availability of records documenting Southerners, pursuing formerly enslaved ancestors, and more. With two Texas-born children, she considers herself an honorary Texan.

Renate Yarborough Sanders
“We Were Supposed to be NEALS: Reuniting Family with DNA”
After 25 years of researching an enslaved ancestor of unknown parentage, DNA breaks the case and helps to put a splintered family back together. Participants will learn how the presenter was able to combine DNA matches with traditional research to find her ancestral family of origin.
Bio: Renate has been conducting genealogical research for 25 years and has provided client services since 2011. She specializes in teaching African-ancestored research methodology at every level. Renate has given virtual and in-person lectures for organizations around the country and served as genealogist for several community projects.

Lori Thornton
“Righting Your Wrongs through Writing”
Writing ancestral narratives offers an opportunity to review older research and correct errors made when less experienced. One genealogist demonstrates the process.
Bio: Lori Thornton, professional genealogist and librarian, specializes in Southern States research. She wrote the Mississippi volume in the NGS “Research in the States” series

Speakers and schedule subject to change.