Speakers 2025

Arthur Sissman, based in Naples, FL, has been active in family history research since 1999 and genetic genealogy since 2015. He has built over 200 family trees and tested his autosomal, Y-DNA, and mtDNA across all major platforms. Using his “3-Legged Stool Protocol” — Surname, Place, and DNA — Arthur uncovered previously unknown relatives and…

“10 Unexpected Places to Find Ancestor Photos Online“ Elizabeth Swanay O’Neal, Certified Genealogist®, is a researcher, writer, educator, and national genealogical speaker. Her specialties include methodology, technology, and online research resources. Elizabeth has studied at the National Institute for Genealogical Research (NIGR, now known as GenFed) in Washington, DC; the Forensic Genealogy Institute (FGI) in Dallas,…

Join us on December 14, 2024 at 9:30 via Zoom to hear Sue Schlichting present “Visiting the Lands of Your Ancestors (in person and from your living room)” Sue Schlichting of Pursuing Your Past, is a native Nebraskan who has over 30 years of research experience. She has expertise in Midwestern research with an emphasis…

Melissa Barker will present “Vertical Files: What Are They and How to Use them” Speaker: Melissa Barker is a Certified Archives Manager and Public Historian currently working at the Houston County, Tennessee Archives & Museum. She is affectionately known as The Archive Lady. She lectures, teaches, and writes about the genealogy research process, researching in…

Presentation: “Mastering the Art of Reading Old Handwriting: Strategies for Success” by Carla Cegielski Carla Cegielski is a full-time family history researcher specializing in Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia research. She has been providing professional research services to attorneys, historians, genealogists, hobbyists, and others since 2007.  She has a special interest in exploring and teaching…

“Writing Your Family History” Emily Coffman Richardson is a professional genealogist and lecturer living in Denton, Texas.  She began her genealogy research working with her mother in courthouses and cemeteries finding records for her ancestors in Ohio and Pennsylvania.  In 2019, she retired from 30 years in higher education as a faculty member and administrator,…