Course Spotlight: Chinese Ancestry: Research Methods and Sources

Do you have Chinese ancestors but don't know where to begin? Or perhaps you work at a library or archive serving those with Chinese ancestral lines? This multi-week course will provide everything you need to know to get started. No prior knowledge of the Chinese language is needed.

Personal Research or Library Professional. This course is uniquely designed for the entire community of Chinese genealogy researchers. Components are meant to help both individuals seeking a deeper understanding of their family's past and professionals who work in archives or libraries assisting patrons with Chinese heritage. Regardless of your goals, this course will help sharpen everyone's skills in exploring the research methodology and available sources for Chinese ancestry.

Jaipu. Chinese Clan Genealogies, known as Jaipu, will be a major focus of the course. Students will be given the opportunity to learn to find these records and then examine and extract valuable genealogical data. Those individuals who may have their own Jaipu are encouraged to bring their own to work on (please notify the coordinator at the start of the course).

The full schedule for this course, faculty bios, and course details can be found here.

Join us for SLIG Virtual 2021

SLIG Virtual 2021 will be the 6th annual fall virtual program for SLIG. Six courses will run as part of this year's program. Topics range from methodology to DNA to research in New York, China, and Russia. Courses will run virtually via Zoom, each featuring nationally recognized experts in their field. Schedules vary. 

Learn more about SLIG Virtual 2021. Registration opens on June 19th, 2021, at 12:00 noon MDT. Create a registration account today! If you have any questions, please reach out to the UGA registrar: registrar@slig.ugagenealogy.org.

Chinese Genealogy Research with Kelly Summers, MS, AG-Don't Miss Out!

Some classes only come to SLIG every few years or so. This is the case with Chinese Genealogy Research. Don't miss the opportunity to learn virtually this fall from Kelly Summers, MS, AG who will help you to:

• Identify records that may contain genealogical information of a Chinese ancestor
• Conduct an Oral History Interview to obtain historical and genealogical information
• Locate and use appropriate collections to identify the correct Chinese surname character and ancestral village location
• Understand the history and organization of the Chinese genealogy (Jiapu)
• Recognize and extract key genealogical information found in the Chinese genealogy
• Document and Organize genealogical information using technology
• Understand the considerations for planning a trip to the Chinese ancestral village

For more information on the class please see the class page.

This course was offered at SLIG in 2020 and received rave reviews!

 “You don’t have to know a lot about Chinese genealogy to take this courseI was surprised by the range of skills in our class of 10. We had the gamut from professionals in genealogy to absolute newbies. We had fluent Chinese speakers and non-Chinese speakers. Credit goes to Kelly Summers, whose course design clearly took nothing for granted.We had an amazing group in Course 8 – we may have met as strangers but we left as friends.” -Linda Y.

“More Chinese genealogy toolsThe Chinese Ancestry tools I learned in this course were unbelievable. I so wish I could have taken this course about 10 years ago, but the next best time is now. For someone who doesn’t read or speak Chinese, we learned:How to read Chinese grave markersHow to interpret Chinese calendarsHow to read a jiapu (Chinese family tree), and how to distinguish the various styles of jiapuHow to plan a trip to your ancestral villageHow to locate a Chinese genealogy onlineThe key words to interpreting a Chinese family treeWhat records are available for Chinese Ancestry and where they are in the USA, Canada, Australia and the former Kingdom of HawaiiThe best apps to hurdle the Chinese language barrierHow to build a resources listand about 100 more things besides.There are pivotal times in life when you learn something that will change the way you think about things ever after. This course was challenging, brain-busting, and fatiguing and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ll be talking a lot about what I learned in the coming months. Probably years.”-Linda Y.

“A HUGE SHOUT OUT to Kelly Renee Summers, her team of fabulous instructors, and my fellow students of Chinese Ancestry: Research Methods and Sources. What a wonderful group of people. It was a true honour to get to know all of you this week.⛩⛩⛩

This course exceeded all my expectations and then... kept on going. My head hurt at the end of every day, yet we were all raring for more the next morning. ⛩⛩⛩

Congratulations to everyone for putting this course together, and again congratulations for making the leap to Virtual! 🍾🍾🍾”-Linda Y.

“This is the best course I have taken in genealogy-ever! Thank you for pulling this amazing group together to teach us.”  – Melissa F.

“Loved every minute. Thank you!” – Linda L.
“Thank you for the excellent class! – Kim R.

So what are you waiting for?
Head on over and register before it's too late!

SLIG Virtual 2020-Chinese Ancestry: Research Methods and Sources Registration Opens Saturday, July 11, 2020

Kelly Summers, MS, AG, is back this fall with Chinese Ancestry: Research Methods and Sources.
A repeat of her successful January 2020 SLIG course that gives instruction on the records and tools needed to research Chinese Ancestors. For those who took the class earlier in the year, a special discount is offered if you choose to take it again. Perfect for those with Chinese Ancestry and for researchers who would like to learn how to help those who do.


This course will be held via Zoom on
Wednesdays, September 9–November 18, 2020
6:00–9:15 pm Mountain Time

Click here for more information and requirements.


Registration opens Saturday, July 11, 2020, at 11:00 am MDT

A Unique Opportunity at SLIG 2020: Chinese Ancestry Course

Americans of Chinese descent, including those with partial Chinese ancestry constitute 1.5% of the total U.S. population. According to the 2010 census, the Chinese American population numbered approximately 3.8 million.

This course is geared toward the individual with Chinese ancestry or the librarian that assists those with Chinese ancestry ... and ... no Chinese language ability is required!

Kelly Summers and her team of knowledgeable instructors will help students:

• Identify records that may contain genealogical information of a Chinese ancestor 
• Conduct an Oral History Interview to obtain historical and genealogical information 
• Locate and use appropriate collections to identify the correct Chinese surname character and ancestral village location 
• Understand the history and organization of the Chinese genealogy (Jiapu) 
• Recognize and extract key genealogical information found in the Chinese genealogy 
• Document and Organize genealogical information using technology 
• Understand the considerations for planning a trip to the Chinese ancestral village 

Additionally, learn about the records, tools and resources needed to discover Chinese ancestry. Identify records that may contain the original Chinese family name character and the location in China where the Chinese ancestral family originated. Locate and examine Chinese Clan Genealogies (Jiapu) and practice extracting important genealogical information. Gather and organize resources to use when helping others with Chinese genealogical research.

If this interests you, go here for more details and to register. This link takes you to the SLIG registration page, and you must scroll down to find more information about the Chinese Ancestry course. Don't miss Kelly's video on the course!

Discover Your Chinese Ancestry

Americans of Chinese descent, including those with partial Chinese ancestry constitute 1.5% of the total U.S. population. According to the 2010 census, the Chinese American population numbered approximately 3.8 million.

This course is geared toward the individual with Chinese ancestry or the librarian that assists those with Chinese ancestry ... and ... no Chinese language ability is required!

Kelly Summers and her team of knowledgeable instructors will help students:

• Identify records that may contain genealogical information of a Chinese ancestor 
• Conduct an Oral History Interview to obtain historical and genealogical information 
• Locate and use appropriate collections to identify the correct Chinese surname character and ancestral village location 
• Understand the history and organization of the Chinese genealogy (Jiapu) 
• Recognize and extract key genealogical information found in the Chinese genealogy 
• Document and Organize genealogical information using technology 
• Understand the considerations for planning a trip to the Chinese ancestral village 

Additionally, learn about the records, tools and resources needed to discover Chinese ancestry. Identify records that may contain the original Chinese family name character and the location in China where the Chinese ancestral family originated. Locate and examine Chinese Clan Genealogies (Jiapu) and practice extracting important genealogical information. Gather and organize resources to use when helping others with Chinese genealogical research.

If this interests you, go here for more details and to register. This link takes you to the SLIG registration page, and you must scroll down to find more information about the Chinese Ancestry course.

SLIG is offering courses on Chinese and Advanced Hispanic Research in 2020

Are you interested in a course on a particular ethnicity? 

If so, check out the courses we are offering in 2020:

• Chinese Genealogy Research, Coordinator: Kelly Summers, MS, AG
• Advanced Hispanic Research, Coordinators: George R. Ryskamp, JD, AG, FUGA and Debbie Gurtler, AG

Registration opens this Saturday! See SLIG's website for more details!

Chinese Ancestry: Research Methods and Sources with Kelly Summers, MS, AG

This course is geared toward the individual with Chinese ancestry or the librarian that assists those with Chinese ancestry. Chinese language ability is not needed.

Kelly Summers is the coordinator for this course and will be assisted by the following team of instructors:

• Stefani Evans, CG
• Anthony King
• Eric Leach, MA
• Marisa Louis Lee
• Lena Stout
• Mel Thatcher, PhD

Geared for the beginner to intermediate student, the course with cover the records, tools and resources needed to discover Chinese ancestry. Identify records that may contain the original Chinese family name character and the location in China where the Chinese ancestral family originated. Locate and examine Chinese Clan Genealogies (Jiapu) and practice extracting important genealogical information. Gather and organize resources to use when helping others with Chinese genealogical research.

Registration for SLIG 2020 opens July 13, 2019 at 9:00 am MDT. For more information, go here.

SLIG is Offering Courses on Chinese and Hispanic Genealogical Research

Are you interested in a course on a particular ethnicity? 

If so, check out the courses we are offering in 2020:

• Chinese Genealogy Research, Coordinator: Kelly Summers, MS, AG
• Advanced Hispanic Research, Coordinators: George R. Ryskamp, JD, AG, FUGA and Debbie Gurtler, AG

Stay tuned as more information will be coming soon at SLIG's website!