Short Bio:  Dana Palmer, CG®, CGL(SM) specializes in lineage society applications, publishing family books, and Midwestern research – specifically Ohio. In addition to her client work, she is part of the Mayflower Silver Books team, and lectures at RootsTech and the National Genealogical Society (NGS) conferences.

 

New Topics

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Using Cluster Research to Prove Kinship  ** NEW **

Kinship proof can be solved many ways. Learn how cluster research and a Civil War pension file overcame this Ohio families' lack of records.

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Connecting Generations: A Mayflower Case Study  ** NEW **

Many lineage society applications fail due to lack of evidence for one or more generations. Come learn how to connect kinship effectively.

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Successful Applications to Ohio's Northwest Territory Lineage Society  ** NEW **

Honor your ancestor by joining SFONT, Ohio's Northwest Territory Lineage Society. Come learn the tricks to be successful submitting your application.

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I Have Pilgrim Ancestors, Now What?  ** NEW **

To join or not to join? Learn about the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) application process and tips on how to be successful submitting your application.

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Genealogy 101: The Essentials to Getting Started  ** NEW **

Learn effective organization and search strategies to find your family like the pros.  Discover the tricks to be successful with getting started.

 

No Soldier Left Behind: Military Repatriation  ** NEW **

All branches of military in the U.S. have a unit to make sure no Soldier is left behind. Come learn about the military repatriation process.

 

Ohio Catholic Records Research  ** NEW **

Many Catholics settled in Ohio. Learn which diocese covers your locality and has church records for your ancestor.

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Hoosier Family: Getting Started with Indiana Research  ** NEW **

Discover the wealth of records in the Hoosier state and connect your family using online and local records from Indiana.

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Create Engaging Presentations  ** NEW **

Do your lectures flop or put attendees to sleep? Learn how to design a presentation that will leave attendees wanting to come back for more.

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FamilySearch Topics

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Buckeye Research: Using FamilySearch to Find Ohio Records

FamilySearch has a treasure trove of Ohio records for genealogists. Come learn how to access these records.

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Finding German Records Using FamilySearch

Many German records can be found on FamilySearch. Come learn how to find and unlock those treasures and connect your family.

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Finding Records Using the Resources on Family Search   

Many records exists online and in repositories. Learn how to use the resources on FamilySearch to find them.

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Become a Pro Using Family Tree  

FamilySearch’s Family Tree can be a powerful tool when used properly.  Come learn how to be successful and connect with your relatives!

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Hidden Treasures at FamilySearch

Beginner introduction to familysearch.org. Learn how to access hidden treasures such as historical records, research wiki, online books, microfilms from the family history library catalog, books on WorldCat and other resources.

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Effective Search Strategies on FamilySearch  

Learn tricks to find your elusive ancestors in the historical records and catalog on FamilySearch

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Beginner's Guide to Temple Name Submission   

Families are Forever, but is yours connected? Be successful with temple name submission using these tips.

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Other Online Database Topics

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Genealogy 101: The Essentials to Getting Started  ** NEW **

Learn effective organization and search strategies to find your family like the pros.  Discover the tricks to be successful with getting started.

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Extra! Extra! Finding Family Using Newspapers 

Newspaper can be a great resource for personal news, announcements, and social items. Learn how to find and use newspapers in your research.

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Chronicling America : A Newspaper Site for Everyone  

Using online search engines can be tricky! Learn some techniques to find your elusive ancestors in the newspapers on Chronicling America.

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Free Genealogy Genealogy Resources on the Web

Discover how to find and use information found on free genealogy websites such as FamilySearch, RootsWeb, Chronicling America, Archive.org and others.

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Tricks of the Trade - Effectively Using Genealogy Websites  

Knowing how to use the tools on the most popular genealogy websites can help you find your family. Come learn the tricks of the trade. 

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Connect Your Family Using Find-A-Grave   

Find-a-Grave can help you discover where your ancestor is buried. Connect your family using this website and other resources found online!

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Connect Your Family: Useful Research Strategies  

Do you have a broken branch or stump in your family tree?  Come learn some useful research strategies to find your brick wall ancestors.

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Effectively Using Ancestry.com

Maximize your Ancestry.com subscription by customizing your home page, linking your DNA to your FamilyTree and browsing the databases in the catalog.

 

Successful Census Searches at Ancestry.com

Learn useful techniques to find those elusive ancestors in census records at Ancestry.com

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Beginning Military Research Using Fold3

Get Started with military research by finding your ancestor at Fold3.

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Regional

 

Successful Applications to Ohio's Northwest Territory Lineage Society  ** NEW **

Honor your ancestor by joining SFONT, Ohio's Northwest Territory Lineage Society. Come learn the tricks to be successful submitting your application.

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Ohio Catholic Records Research  ** NEW **

Many Catholics settled in Ohio. Learn which diocese covers your locality and has church records for your ancestor.

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Hoosier Family: Getting Started with Indiana Research  ** NEW **

Discover the wealth of records in the Hoosier state and connect your family using online and local records from Indiana.

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Buckeye Research: Using FamilySearch to Find Ohio Records

FamilySearch has a treasure trove of Ohio records for genealogists. Come learn how to access these records.

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Finding Family in Ohio Newspapers

Newspapers provide many insights into the life of your ancestors. Learn how to find Ohio newspapers from some of the most popular websites.

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Finding Vital Records in Ohio

Ohio has a wealth of vital records right at your fingertips. Do you know how to find them? Come learn how to be successful.

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Using Ohio Tax Records to Find Family

Tax records could be crucial to connect your family. Come learn about tax records available in Ohio and how to use them.

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Buckeye Expansion: Migration into Ohio  

Many people moved into Ohio or passed through it.  Where did they come from and where did they settle? Come learn about Ohio's early expansion.

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Ohio Deed Research  

Did you know early marriages can be found in deeds? Come learn where to find Ohio deeds and what's in these useful records.

 

Ohio Probate Records  

Ohio probate records are invaluable to genealogists and can be key to proving kinship. Come learn how to benefit from using these records.

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Researching in Southern Ohio   

Southern Ohio has an abundance of genealogy resources. Be successful in finding your ancestors by knowing what is available and where to find it.

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Ohio: A Genealogy Treasure 

Learn about the treasure trove of genealogy resources in Ohio and how to obtain copies of these records.

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Immigration / Emigration / Naturalization

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Smooth Sailing - Discovering Ship Passenger Lists  

Learn how to be successful finding your ancestors in ship passenger lists.

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Naturalization Records - A Clue to the Past     

Naturalizations can be pivotal in finding your ancestor's origins. Learn how to find citizenship papers in courts and archives.

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Ethnic / GermanTopics

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Discovering German Church Records at Matricula Online

Obtaining German church records can be challenging unless you know where to find them. Discover the abundance of these Catholic records at Matricula Online.

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Finding German Church Records on Archion

Once you've identified your German ancestor's place of origin, then what? Come learn how to find the Lutheran church records on Archion.

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Finding Your Hungarian Roots

Did your family come from the country of Hungary in the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Discover how to be successful finding your Hungarian roots.

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Researching Your Czech Ancestors

The Austro-Hungarian Empire included many areas in Eastern Europe. Learn how to be successful finding your family in what is now the Czech Republic.

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Finding German Records Using FamilySearch

Many German records can be found on FamilySearch. Come learn how to find and unlock those treasures and connect your family.

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Finding Your Family in the U.K.

Come learn about the abundance of genealogy records in the U.K. and be successful connecting your family.

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The Hunt for German Ancestors  

Ever want to know more about your German heritage even if you aren't fluent.  Learn tips to be successful finding your family in Germany.

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Striking Gold: Using Cluster Research to Identify an Unknown Father  

Blended ethnic families can be tough to trace. Be successful finding your German ancestor's parents by using cluster research techniques and free online tools.

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Uncovering Immigrant Origins Through Cluster Research   

Descendants of an early Ohio family had no idea of their origins. Following an associated family brought success, even after wading into foreign-language documents.

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Useful Tools for Those with German Ancestors  

You don't have to be a German expert to read your German ancestors' records. Come learn the tricks to be successful.

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Tools for Reading German Handwriting   

Understanding what is in your German records can be invaluable. Learn how to decipher the records using a variety of tools available.

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I Found Them! Using Residences to Find Elusive Ancestors    

Finding ethnic relatives in large cities can be challenging. Learn how distinguishing features such as occupation, religion or residence can help you find them.

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Finding Your German Ancestor’s Place of Origin   

Where did my Germans come from?  Learn how to determine your ancestor’s place of origin using auswanderungen and other helpful records.

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Kinship / Lineage Society Topics

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Using Cluster Research to Prove Kinship  ** NEW **

Kinship proof can be solved many ways. Learn how cluster research and a Civil War pension file overcame this Ohio families' lack of records.

​

Connecting Generations: A Mayflower Case Study  ** NEW **

Many lineage society applications fail due to lack of evidence for one or more generations. Come learn how to connect kinship effectively.

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I Have Pilgrim Ancestors, Now What?  ** NEW **

To join or not to join? Learn about the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) application process and tips on how to be successful submitting your application.

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Wanted! Seeking Unknown Parents

Are you struggling to find your ancestor's parents? Learn how to bus those bricks walls and find your family using a variety of sources.

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Proving Kinship by "Following the Money"

Do you want to join a local, state, or national lineage society. Come learn techniques to connect your family by following the money.

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Join the Club: Submitting Successful Lineage Society Applications 

Do you want to join a local, state or national lineage society? Come learn what you need to submit so you can be accepted successfully!

 

Are You My Mother? Proving Kinship for Lineage Society Applications   

How do you prove kinship for lineage society applications when there is no direct proof? This lecture will discuss techniques to be successful.

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Hide & Seek: Proving Kinship for Complex Families   

So you want you join a lineage society but don’t have enough proof? Learn how to connect difficult kin using a variety of indirect sources.

 

The Case of the Unknown Father: Reconciling Conflicting Evidence  

What happens when your records have contradicting details? Learn how to resolve conflicting evidence by using the G.P.S.

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DNA 

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What Test Should I Take? Intro to DNA Research

DNA testing can be useful in breaking through your genealogy bricks walls. Come learn about the types of tests and tricks for getting started. 

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Help I'm Adopted! Finding Your Biological Family Using DNA

Finding your biological family when you're adopted can be tricky. Learn some techniques to piece together your family using DNA and other records.

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Miscellaneous 

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Genealogy 101: The Essentials to Getting Started  ** NEW **

Learn effective organization and search strategies to find your family like the pros.  Discover the tricks to be successful with getting started.

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No Soldier Left Behind: Military Repatriation  ** NEW **

All branches of military in the U.S. have a unit to make sure no Soldier is left behind. Come learn about the military repatriation process.

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Where is it? Using Maps in Genealogy Research  

Maps can help you understand more about where your ancestor lived, worked, worshipped and was buried. Come learn how to find and use them.

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Hidden Gems in Deeds  

Deeds contain more than just land transactions. Find hidden gems for your family by using these records.

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Always and Forever: Marriage Record Research  

Marriage records are valuable tools for genealogists which sometimes provide clues for ones birth and parentage. Learn how to find and obtain copies of these valuable records online and in repositories.

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Rest in Peace: Understanding Death Records  

Discover what clues are hidden in death records and how to find them both online and at repositories. 

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Collecting Dead Relatives: Finding Burial Locations

Discovering death and burial records can be challenging. Learn what resources exist, who has them and how to obtain a copy.  Special focus will be on interment records and determining unknown burial locations.  Discussion will also include finding online tombstone transcriptions and photos.

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When Your Research Hits a Brick Wall

Have you ever hit a genealogy brick wall? Come learn techniques to help you bust your brick walls and discover your family.

 

If You Don't Find Grandma on the Internet

Learn how to find your ancestors using local resources such as genealogical and historical societies, newspapers, cemeteries, funeral homes, court, and land records.

 

Busting Through Brick Walls by Understanding County Boundaries

Learn how to find your ancestors' land, court, and census records even though the boundaries have changed. Online historical maps will also be shown.

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Organizing / Publishing

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Genealogy 101: The Essentials to Getting Started  ** NEW **

Learn effective organization and search strategies to find your family like the pros.  Discover the tricks to be successful with getting started.

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Creating a Cherished Family Book   

Do you ever wish grandma left stories and photos for you to enjoy?  Learn how to create a cherished family book using MS Word.

 

Get it Together: Organizing Your Family Research

Get started with genealogy research the right way. Learn successful methods to organize your papers, digital files, pictures and research notes.

This can be a 1-hour lecture or 2-hour workshop.  Please bring a 3 ring binder, a box of plastic sheet protectors, a five-generation pedigree chart and family groups for each of the generations to the 2 hour workshop. 

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Beginning Photo and Document Editing Using Adobe Photoshop Elements

Photo editing techniques for genealogists will be demonstrated using the inexpensive software Adobe Photoshop Elements.  

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Photo Preservation & Storage

Are your photos in a box gathering dust? Come learn how to preserve and store your memories for future generations to enjoy.

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Professional / Society Management

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Create Engaging Presentations  ** NEW **

Do your lectures flop or put attendees to sleep? Learn how to design a presentation that will leave attendees wanting to come back for more.

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Successful Business Practices for Researchers and Societies  

You can have a successful business of organization in this digital age. Come learn ideas on  how to set yourself up for success.

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Enter the Digital Age: Design an Exceptional Society Website  

To be successful societies need to have a presence on the web. Learn how to create an attractive, user-friendly website to attract and keep members.

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Program Planning: You Want Bodies in Those Seats   

Offering educational events are one aspect of being a successful society. Come learn how to plan well-attended programs.

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Establish A Vibrant Family Organization 

A family organization can be a great way to meet extended family and research your ancestors. Learn how to make it work!

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Improving Your Genealogical Society: Ideas for Greater Success  

Maintaining a growing membership can be challenging in a digital world. Learn how your society can be successful too!

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Becoming a Professional Genealogist

Learn how to become a professional genealogist and get paid for doing what you love!

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