Are You in Search of Your Ancestors's Immigrant Origins?

     SLIG's is offering "Finding Immigrant Origins" in January 2015. This course covers the key historical sources and research methodologies for family historians tracing immigrant origins. Students begin by envisioning the immigrant within the context of his family, community, and culture. Historical documents created by the pushes and pulls that motivated his journey abroad are examined. Methodologies are reviewed for analyzing and correlating information found in U.S. record sources and immigration records to discover the immigrant’s old-world origins. Principles and practices are illustrated for tracing immigrants back to many specific countries and for effective online research of immigrant ancestors. Additional topics include chain migration, ethnic migration paths, surname localization, DNA evidence, cluster genealogy, and other tools to help find an immigrant’s ancestral village.

The expert instructors are:
· David Ouimette, CG
· Trish Tolley, AG
· John Colletta, PhD
· Suzanne Adams, AG
· Jeff Svare, AG
· Lynn Turner, AG

Below are the specific topics that will be covered during the week-long course:
o Identifying the Immigrant within the Family and Community
o The Ebb and Flow of Immigrants to America: Colonial Times to WW II
o Ethnic Migration Paths (and the Pushes and Pulls of Immigration)
o Family and Local Records: Histories, Biographies, and Newspapers
o Vital Records, Parish Registers, Probate, and Cemeteries
o U.S. Customs and Immigration Lists, 1820-1957
o Censuses, City Directories, and Name Lists
o Naturalization Records, Colonial Times to Early 20th Century
o Immigration to Colonial America
o UK and Irish Immigration
o Localizing the Surname: Dictionaries and Heat Maps
o Online Immigration Research: Computer Lab
o Eastern European Immigration
o Scandinavian Immigration
o German Immigration
o Italian Immigration
o Hispanic Immigration
o Chain Migration: Polish Case Study
o Interpreting the Place Name: Linguistics, Maps and Gazetteers
o DNA Evidence of Ancestral Origins

Spots still remain in this course, so register today to save yourself a seat for this informative track. It promises to provide the knowledge to help you determine your ancestor's immigrant origins! You can register at http://www.infouga.org/aem.php?lv=p&epg=68.