Saturday Seminars
Join Us On the Third Saturday of Each Month
Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., is proud to sponsor Saturday Seminars to benefit you, the genealogy library patron. The seminars are FREE and are held at the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd., Plano, Texas, in the first floor Program Room or you can attend via Zoom. Doors open at 10:15 a.m. Registration is not necessary. The content is suitable for all levels of genealogy research so bring your friends to learn and have fun at the same time! As always, donations are gladly accepted! Email [email protected] to be added to the distribution list for the Zoom link.
Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., is proud to sponsor Saturday Seminars to benefit you, the genealogy library patron. The seminars are FREE and are held at the W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library, 2501 Coit Rd., Plano, Texas, in the first floor Program Room or you can attend via Zoom. Doors open at 10:15 a.m. Registration is not necessary. The content is suitable for all levels of genealogy research so bring your friends to learn and have fun at the same time! As always, donations are gladly accepted! Email [email protected] to be added to the distribution list for the Zoom link.
November 15, 2025 - "Farmer, Rancher or Sharecropper: Shaping a profile for your Rural Ancestor" by J. Mark Lowe - Farming is a proud and honorable occupation. Develop a rich profile of your farming ancestor and community using available resources.
Speaker: J. Mark Lowe, FUGA, J. Mark Lowe describes himself as “born to be curious.” He is a professional genealogist, author, and lecturer who specializes in original records and manuscripts throughout the South. Mark enjoys opportunities to share what he has learned over the years through YouTube, Webinars, and Institutes.
He served as the Course Coordinator for ‘Research in the South’ at IGHR (Georgia), SLIG (Utah), and TIGR (Texas), does Webinars for Legacy Family Tree Webinars and has worked on several genealogical television series including Follow Your Past, African American Lives 2, Who Do You Think You Are? and UnXplained Events, and podcasts, including Twice Removed and Blast From My Past.
Mark has published in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly (APGQ), National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), FGS’ FORUM. The Longhunter (So. Ky. Genealogical Society), Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society Quarterly, North Carolina Genealogical Quarterly, and other society publications. He is a Past President of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and Past President of the Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society Mark is a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Society and was awarded the Graham T. Smallwood award and Lifetime Membership award by the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Website: www.kytnresearch.com
Blog: Keeping the Story Alive: http://keepingthestoryalive.blogspot.com/ Kentucky/Tennessee Stories: http://kytnstories.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @JLowe615 Instagram: @kytnresearch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JLoweGenealogy/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kytnresearch
Speaker: J. Mark Lowe, FUGA, J. Mark Lowe describes himself as “born to be curious.” He is a professional genealogist, author, and lecturer who specializes in original records and manuscripts throughout the South. Mark enjoys opportunities to share what he has learned over the years through YouTube, Webinars, and Institutes.
He served as the Course Coordinator for ‘Research in the South’ at IGHR (Georgia), SLIG (Utah), and TIGR (Texas), does Webinars for Legacy Family Tree Webinars and has worked on several genealogical television series including Follow Your Past, African American Lives 2, Who Do You Think You Are? and UnXplained Events, and podcasts, including Twice Removed and Blast From My Past.
Mark has published in the Association of Professional Genealogists Quarterly (APGQ), National Genealogical Society Quarterly (NGSQ), FGS’ FORUM. The Longhunter (So. Ky. Genealogical Society), Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society Quarterly, North Carolina Genealogical Quarterly, and other society publications. He is a Past President of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), and Past President of the Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society Mark is a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Society and was awarded the Graham T. Smallwood award and Lifetime Membership award by the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Website: www.kytnresearch.com
Blog: Keeping the Story Alive: http://keepingthestoryalive.blogspot.com/ Kentucky/Tennessee Stories: http://kytnstories.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @JLowe615 Instagram: @kytnresearch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JLoweGenealogy/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kytnresearch
December 20, 2025 - Show & Tell - Our annual meeting at W.O. Haggard Library to share our genealogy discoveries from 2025. Join us for coffee, cookies, and a chance to show off the hard work done on our Family Histories.
January 17, 2026 - "The Road to Independence: Defying the British During the Revolutionary War" by Michael Strauss, MA, AG, AGL - This lecture examines the complexities of the American Revolutionary War and its immediate aftermath, tracing its origins in escalating colonial tensions with Great Britain through its conclusion in 1783. Drawing on a range of primary source materials, we will explore the individual and collective experiences of military service in both the Continental and state forces. In addition to analyzing compiled military service records, pension files, and land bounty warrants, the lecture will incorporate naval and marine documentation to construct a more comprehensive understanding of the conflict. The analysis extends beyond the war's conclusion to address the national emergencies of Shay’s Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion, framing them as critical moments in the new republic’s post-war trajectory.
Speaker: Michael L. Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™, is a military historian and professional genealogist. He holds a BA in history with a focus on the Civil War from Shepherd University and an MA in military history from the University of Massachusetts in Boston. His expertise is recognized in the judicial systems of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, where he testifies as an expert witness in forensic estate investigations. Strauss is a prolific writer and national speaker, contributing books, peer-reviewed journal articles, popular history publications, and lectures at multiple universities, conferences, and institutes.
Speaker: Michael L. Strauss, MA, AG®, AGL™, is a military historian and professional genealogist. He holds a BA in history with a focus on the Civil War from Shepherd University and an MA in military history from the University of Massachusetts in Boston. His expertise is recognized in the judicial systems of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, where he testifies as an expert witness in forensic estate investigations. Strauss is a prolific writer and national speaker, contributing books, peer-reviewed journal articles, popular history publications, and lectures at multiple universities, conferences, and institutes.
February 21, 2026 - "Organizing for Genealogical Success" by Emily Richardson - Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or professional researcher we have all felt the pain of not being able to find the document or picture we have previously found during our genealogical research. Organization of genealogical research is critical for success. Whether you use files, notebook, or digital files, you must have a process that will enable you to easily locate a document in your system. This organization includes developing a process that you use to know who you are researching, what you have completed, what you have found, where you found it and how this information aids in future research. Come learn more about organizational skills for genealogists so that you can be efficient and successful in your quest to find your ancestors.
Speaker: Emily Coffman Richardson, Ed. D. 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 higher education as a faculty member and administrator, moved to Texas and opened up Kinsearchers, the original name of her mother’s business as a genealogist. For her clients she often works on lineage applications, for multiple societies, as well as brick walls including research for name conflicts within family trees.
Emily has received the Martha Washington Award from the SAR for researching multiple lineages for prospective members of the SAR. She has helped numerous clients join the SAR, DAR, 1812, Sons of the Republic of Texas, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Colonial Dames, First Family Applications for multiple states and Colonial Clergy.
She is the president of the Texas State Genealogical Society (TxSGS) for a two-year term that began on January 1, 2025. She previously served as secretary for four years and as the Director-at-Large for the executive committee for TxSGS. She oversees the production of the new TxSGS Podcast, Lone Star Family Trails.
Speaker: Emily Coffman Richardson, Ed. D. 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 higher education as a faculty member and administrator, moved to Texas and opened up Kinsearchers, the original name of her mother’s business as a genealogist. For her clients she often works on lineage applications, for multiple societies, as well as brick walls including research for name conflicts within family trees.
Emily has received the Martha Washington Award from the SAR for researching multiple lineages for prospective members of the SAR. She has helped numerous clients join the SAR, DAR, 1812, Sons of the Republic of Texas, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Colonial Dames, First Family Applications for multiple states and Colonial Clergy.
She is the president of the Texas State Genealogical Society (TxSGS) for a two-year term that began on January 1, 2025. She previously served as secretary for four years and as the Director-at-Large for the executive committee for TxSGS. She oversees the production of the new TxSGS Podcast, Lone Star Family Trails.
April 18, 2026 - " Inventing America - Records of the US Patent Office" by Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA - Americans have always been tinkerers and inventors. Records of the U.S. Patent Office can enrich any family's history. Where can those records be found today, and what can they tell us about our families?
Speaker - Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree. She writes, teaches and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical topics, providing expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. A Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side, she holds a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark. Before she retired, she worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor and, for more than 20 years, as an adjunct member of the faculty at Rutgers Law School.
She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society and numerous state and regional genealogical societies. Named a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association in 2025, she received the 2015 UGA Silver Tray Award and the 2017 Award of Excellence from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, where she now serves as a member of the NGSQ editorial board.
An internationally-known lecturer and course coordinator and faculty member at numerous genealogical institutes, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer® from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. Her award-winning blog appears at The Legal Genealogist® website (https://www.legalgenealogist.com).
Speaker - Judy G. Russell, The Legal Genealogist®, is a genealogist with a law degree. She writes, teaches and lectures on a wide variety of genealogical topics, providing expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. A Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side, she holds a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark. Before she retired, she worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor and, for more than 20 years, as an adjunct member of the faculty at Rutgers Law School.
She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society and numerous state and regional genealogical societies. Named a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association in 2025, she received the 2015 UGA Silver Tray Award and the 2017 Award of Excellence from the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, where she now serves as a member of the NGSQ editorial board.
An internationally-known lecturer and course coordinator and faculty member at numerous genealogical institutes, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer® from the Board for Certification of Genealogists®. Her award-winning blog appears at The Legal Genealogist® website (https://www.legalgenealogist.com).
2026 Programs
2025 Programs
2024 Programs:
2023 Programs:
- January 17, 2026 - "The Road to Independence: Defying the British During the Revolutionary War" by Michael Strauss, MA, AG, AGL - This lecture examines the complexities of the American Revolutionary War and its immediate aftermath, tracing its origins in escalating colonial tensions with Great Britain through its conclusion in 1783. Drawing on a range of primary source materials, we will explore the individual and collective experiences of military service in both the Continental and state forces. In addition to analyzing compiled military service records, pension files, and land bounty warrants, the lecture will incorporate naval and marine documentation to construct a more comprehensive understanding of the conflict. The analysis extends beyond the war's conclusion to address the national emergencies of Shay’s Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion, framing them as critical moments in the new republic’s post-war trajectory.
- February 21, 2026 - "Organizing for Genealogical Success" by Emily Richardson - Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or professional researcher we have all felt the pain of not being able to find the document or picture we have previously found during our genealogical research. Organization of genealogical research is critical for success. Whether you use files, notebook, or digital files, you must have a process that will enable you to easily locate a document in your system. This organization includes developing a process that you use to know who you are researching, what you have completed, what you have found, where you found it and how this information aids in future research. Come learn more about organizational skills for genealogists so that you can be efficient and successful in your quest to find your ancestors.
- March 21, 2026 - "Be a Super Sleuth: Accessing Images and Full-Text Search in FamilySearch by Jill Morelli
- April 18, 2026 - " Inventing America - Records of the US Patent Office" by Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA - Americans have always been tinkerers and inventors. Records of the U.S. Patent Office can enrich any family's history. Where can those records be found today, and what can they tell us about our families?
2025 Programs
- January 18, 2025 - "Avoiding An Ancestor Identity Crisis" by Shelley Bishop - How can you tell if a name in a database or record is really your ancestor? Genealogists often deal with the challenges of identifying ancestors despite same names, irregular spellings, inconsistent ages, similar places, unknown maiden names, missing vital records, ancestral migration, and boundary changes. Knowing how to sort these issues out is crucial to building an accurate family tree. Join genealogist Shelley Bishop who will demonstrate the use of seven strategies to help you solve identity problems and keep your research on track.
- February 15, 2025 - "Using Fold3 to Your Advantage" by Craig R. Scott - With every subscription service, there are nuances. What is free? What will you have to pay for? How can I best use this tool, efficiently, but effectively? Where are their mistakes? How can I find what I need, even when I cannot seem to find it? Come learn my tricks about Fold3.com.
- March 15, 2025 - "Strategies to Identify DNA Matches" by Kelli Bergheimer - Learn how to sort your matches (Leeds Method) and use clustering tools to build a master list of how each match is related to you! Learn to take advantage of inferred matches of your siblings to add more depth and data to your list. And develop a plan for identifying each first, second, and third cousin match in your match list.
- April 19, 2025 - "What's New at FamilySearch.org" by Lynell Moss (This meeting will be in the Program Room in the Genealogy Section due to voting.)
- May 17, 2025 - "Linking Generations with Court and Land Records" by Judy Russell - It’s the single biggest issue genealogists face: how do we connect one generation to the next with evidence we can rely on? Vital records are excellent documentation, but they often don’t exist for the time and place we’re researching. That’s when we have to find workarounds to make sure we’re not simply putting people into family lines because they share the same names. Using court and land records, we can often find the evidence we need to link the generations accurately.
- June 21, 2025 - "How Do I Know My Sources Are Good and My Research is Accurate?" by Kim Richardson - What makes a source a "good" source? How do you know it's reliable? Are you using good research plans? Or do you just feel lost? Overwhelmed? Let's discuss finding information, using it as good evidence, and documenting as you go. This presentation was created from the standpoint of "I wish I knew that before I started researching!"
- July 19, 2025 - "Navigating the Historical and Genealogical Treasures Within Repositories, Libraries, and More" by Katherine R. Wilson - Unlock practical techniques to uncover valuable repositories in ancestral regions, master the use of repository finding aids and subject headings, and effortlessly navigate select websites and digital collections to take your genealogical research to the next level
- August 16, 2025 - All Day Virtual Seminar with Thomas MacEntee
- September 20,2025 - "How to Reopen and Work a Genealogical Cold Case" by Lisa Louise Cooke - Become a genealogical detective in this vital session. You’ll learn how to track down ancestors like a criminal cold case detective, following their distinctive process. Learn how to sniff out holes in your research and get missing information on the record using a variety of methods including cutting edge technology.
- October 18, 2025 - "Beyond the Census: Uncovering the Story of Your Ancestor's Business - Your ancestor's business wasn't just how they made a living it was part of their identity, their community, and their story. In this session, learn how to dig beyond census records to uncover the details of your ancestor's occupation or business.
- November 15, 2025 - "Farmer, Rancher or Sharecropper: Shaping a profile for your Rural Ancestor" by J. Mark Lowe - Farming is a proud and honorable occupation. Develop a rich profile of your farming ancestor and community using available resources.
- December 20, 2025 - Show and Tell - in person at the library only
2024 Programs:
- January 20, 2024—”A Nose for News: Sniffing Out Stories in Newspapers” by Mary Roddy
- February 17, 2024—”The Fair Court: Records of the Chancery Court” by Judy Russell
- March 16, 2024—”A New Strategy for Brick Walls" by Kim Richardson
- April 20, 2024— “The Value of Transcribing Historical Records” by LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson
- May 18, 2024—”A Foundational Step in Research Strategy—What is the Research Question” by Emily Richardson
- June 15, 2024—”AI and Genealogy” by Thomas MacEntee
- July 20, 2024—”Working With An Online Family Tree” by Bernard Meisner
- August 17, 2024—”Diseases, Disasters, Distress: Bad for Your Ancestors, Good for Genealogy” by Lisa Alzo
- September 21, 2024 - "Research: From Planning to Writing" All Day Virtual Seminar
- October 19, 2024 - "Avoiding Bias: Consider All The Possibilities" by Barbara Coakley
- November 16, 2024 - "After You're Gone: Future Proofing Your Genealogy Research" by Thomas MacEntee
- December 21, 2024 - Show and Tell - this event is in the library only.
2023 Programs:
- January 21 - Discussion Group
- February 18 - "Applying to a Lineage Society" by Emily Richardson
- March 18 - "Census Records - Have You Really Looked at Them?" by Barbara Coakley
- April 15 - "Shaky Leaf Syndrome: Using Website Generated Hints More Effectively" by Sarah Cochran
- May 20 - "10 Genealogical Brick Walls You Will Face" by Robert Cameron Weir
- June 17 - "Appreciating Conflicting Evidence: Analysis and Resolution Develops Broader Research" and "Indirect Evidence: Finding What Was Not Written" by Rebecca Whitman Koford - This meeting will last until 1 pm.
- July 15 - " "FamilySearch Hidden Treasures or Discoveries of a Fearless Button Pusher" by Lynell Moss.
- August 19 - "30 Types of Maps Useful in Genealogy," by Margaret Kapustiak
- September 16 - All Day Seminar
- October 21 - "After They Are Gone: What Probate Records Tell Us," by Barbara Coakley
- November 18 - "Researching Graphically: Expanding Your Research with Timelines, Charts, Spreadsheets and Diagrams" by Ari Wilkins
- December 16 - Annual Show and Tell - In Person at Haggard Library Only
