I am excited to present three lectures at the National Genealogical Society’s annual conference this year. On Wednesday, 2:30 p.m., join me for “Third Coast: How the Great Lakes Shaped America” (W-144). In this lecture I will share my thoughts on  why understanding the rich history of the Great Lakes region is instrumental in understanding the development of the United States. From the early settlers and land grants to westward expansion and homesteading, the Great Lakes served as a major transportation network that was vital to the development of the country. In this presentation, we will examine geography, transportation, economic growth, defense, and the applicable genealogical record sets. Genealogists with ancestors who lived in one of the states that borders one of the Great Lakes will learn about some important historical points, record sets, and new research paths. Likewise, this lecture can give some possible ideas for ancestors who “disappeared” with a look at luring prospects in the area including land and commerce opportunities. As an Ohio native, born near Lake Erie, I am passionate about this area of the U.S. and excited to share some interesting stories and examples from this region.

Join me also on Saturday at 2:30 for “Casting the Net: Denominational, Ethnic, and Specialized Newspaper Research” (S423). Most genealogists understand the usefulness of newspapers in their research, but many don’t know about, shy away from, or don’t know how to find denominational, ethnic, or specialized newspapers. These newspapers give a unique glimpse through a different lens into the daily lives of our ancestors. I will share ways that these newspapers can fill research gaps and discuss how to find them both online and off.

Also on Saturday at 4 p.m., I’ll be talking about one of my favorite, and possibly most underutilized resources for genealogists, “Using PERSI Like a Pro” (S456) which is sponsored by Findmypast. I will briefly describe PERSI, giving a short history on its development and take the audience on a tour of the Findmypast interface. We will go over some tips for searching the index, identifying articles, obtaining copies, and look at some of the digitized journals available on the website. I have had some interesting revelations in my own research using PERSI, which I will share. I will also discuss how you can get your local society involved in the digitization project.

I enjoy sharing methodologies and strategies with my audiences and I do hope that you learn something new from these lectures. I will see you in May in Grand Rapids!

ABOUT: Cari A. Taplin, CG is a native of Wood County, Ohio but has lived in Wyoming, Colorado, and now near Austin, Texas. Cari has served in a wide variety of volunteer and leadership positions for several state, local, and national societies. As the owner of GenealogyPANTS, she provides speaking, research, and consultation services. Cari focuses on Midwestern states, methodology, and researching family legends. She enjoys sharing methodologies and strategies with her audiences and hope you learn something new from every lecture.