Speaker: Rich Venezia -- Rich is a New Jersey native who now calls Philadelphia home. He founded Rich Roots Genealogy in 2013. He was a member of the research team of Genealogy Roadshow (PBS) for two seasons, and also consulted on Follow Your Past (Travel Channel). He is an expert in the research of 20th-century immigrant ancestors, especially underutilized record sources and federal records. He also specializes in Italian and Irish research. Additionally, he assists clients with dual citizenship applications for Ireland and Italy, and is a proud Italian dual citizen. He holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. He lectures nationwide, and spoke about "How to Grow Empathy From Uncovering Your Roots" at TEDx Pittsburgh 2017. See Rich's website at www.richroots.net.

Printable 1-page flyer (8-1/2 x 11 pdf)

Seminar Program: Four one-hour presentations focused on immigration.

Registration (Required; closed Thursday, Feb 1 at 5:00 pm PST):

-- Your payment receipt is your registration confirmation. As the Seminar approached, registrants received additional information via email.

-- A recording of each presentation will be available for 30 days after the Seminar for those who were registered.

Seminar Program Outline: (Program details)

-- Emerald Isle Express: Researching Irish Ancestors

-- Discovering Your Immigrant’s Origins: Exhausting Every Resource

-- Ship Manifests: An In-Depth Look

-- Naturalization Know-How: The Laws and Records of U. S. Citizenship

Questions: Email us at Events@OlyGenSoc.org

Past Seminars

Seminar Program:

Emerald Isle Express: Researching Irish Ancestors -- Discover the variety of Irish record sets available, where to find which records, and how to learn the stories of your Irish ancestors.

A wide range of extant Irish records will be delved into. Contrary to popular belief, not all of Ireland’s records were destroyed in the 1922 fire. This lecture breaks down which records survived and how to access them – both in the US and in Ireland. Among the topics this lecture covers:

Tithe Applotment Books
Griffith’s Valuation
Civil Registration
Irish censuses – which survive and which don’t
Irish parish records
Wills and Administrations
What’s online and what isn’t
Researching on-site in Ireland

Discovering Your Immigrant’s Origins: Exhausting Every Resource -- Pin down your elusive immigrant ancestor’s place of origin using some well-known – and lesser-known – record sets, ideas, and techniques.

Immigrant ancestors can give us quite the challenge when trying to find their exact place of origin. The endless “Poland” notations or “Norway” listed as place of birth can drive genealogists, both beginner and expert alike, mad. This presentation delves into various and diverse records that are found stateside so as to narrow down that search, as well as ideas for when the paper trail continually runs cold. The main suspects will be discussed, as will numerous lesser-known and lesser-used records. A (non-exhaustive) sample of some of the record sets that may be covered:

Ship manifests
Naturalization records
Vital records
World War I and World War II draft registration cards
Church records
County histories
Probate files
Ethnic record sets

Ship Manifests: An In-Depth Look -- Ship manifests are the "go-to" record to find immigrant arrivals in the 1800s and 1900s. Discover all the different information they can tell us.

This lecture provides a deep dive into some of the most commonly used records in immigrant research and how they may surprise us – including how subsequent notations on ship manifests and an overview of the various indexes available could lead to more discoveries

Naturalization Know-How: The Laws and Records of U. S. Citizenship -- Many records were created when immigrant ancestors became American citizens. Learn what they are and how to find them.

Since the process to become a US citizen hasn’t always looked the same, different records from different time periods will be shown, and strategies to find naturalization records over the years will be discussed. The lecture will cover:

Naturalization laws from 1790 to present
How naturalization records changed over time
The Federalization of naturalization
Derivative citizenship (via one’s husband or father)
Where to look for naturalization records

Detailed Agenda:

08:30 - 08:50	Zoom meeting opens
08:50 - 09:00	General Announcements
09:00 - 10:00	Presentation 1: Emerald Isle Express: Researching Irish Ancestors
10:00 - 10:15	Break
10:15 - 11:15	Presentation 2: Discovering Your Immigrant's Origins: Exhausting Every Resource
11:15 - 11:45	Lunch break
11:45 - 12:00	Q & A
12:00 - 01:00	Presentation 3: Ship Manifests: An In-Depth Look
01:00 - 01:15	Break
01:15 - 02:15	Presentation 4: Naturalization Know-How: The Laws and Records of U.S. Citizenship
02:15 - 02:30	Q & A

Participants can either keep their connection open on Zoom during each break or log off and return prior to the start of the next presentation.

The day before the webinar each registered attendee will receive an email with a Zoom link and the syllabus for each of the four sessions.

During the webinar, participants will be able to ask questions by typing them in a "chat box". Time permitting, questions submitted by participants will be read by a moderator for Rich's response at the end of each presentation.