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.
October 17, 2026 - AI in Genealogical Research: A Practical Approach by Diana Elder - See how AI works in real genealogy research through hands-on examples. We'll learn how AI can assist with common research tasks, such as creating timelines and source citations, logging research, and preparing records. You'll see examples of AI tools in action and learn what they excel at (and where they fall short). Leave with practical tips and specific examples you can use in your own family history research.
Speaker: Diana Elder, AG, AGL is a professional genealogist, author, and speaker. She is accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Diana graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education and has turned her passion for teaching to educating teens and adults in proven genealogy techniques. Diana is the author of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogists Guide and creator of the "Research Like a Pro" study group. She writes regular articles for FamilyLocket.com, the genealogy website created by her daughter, Nicole Dyer. She presents regularly at genealogy conferences, sharing the methods she uses every day to solve challenging genealogical problems.
Speaker: Diana Elder, AG, AGL is a professional genealogist, author, and speaker. She is accredited in the Gulf South region of the United States through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists (ICAPGen). Diana graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education and has turned her passion for teaching to educating teens and adults in proven genealogy techniques. Diana is the author of Research Like a Pro: A Genealogists Guide and creator of the "Research Like a Pro" study group. She writes regular articles for FamilyLocket.com, the genealogy website created by her daughter, Nicole Dyer. She presents regularly at genealogy conferences, sharing the methods she uses every day to solve challenging genealogical problems.
November 21, 2026 - "Diseases Our Ancestors Faced & How Those Illnesses Changed Our World" by Dr. Gregory C. Gardner - This presentation reviews several of the major illness our ancestors dreaded but thankfully with which we rarely concern ourselves. We will use historical records including death records as well as modern investigations to tell the story of illness and how it impacted the lives or our ancestors and how these illnesses shaped our world today.
Speaker: Dr. Gregory C. Gardner is a semiretired physician, medical educator, and rheumatologist with over three decades of experience in clinical practice and academic medicine. He served for more than 30 years as a clinician and educator at the University of Washington and continues to contribute to medical education at the national level. Dr. Gardner also provides specialized rheumatology care to four Native American Tribes in Washington State. In addition to his medical career, Dr. Gardner is passionate about family history and enjoys sharing his research and teaching in this field. Outside of his professional pursuits, eh finds joy in traveling with his spouse and spending time with his six beloved grandchildren.
Speaker: Dr. Gregory C. Gardner is a semiretired physician, medical educator, and rheumatologist with over three decades of experience in clinical practice and academic medicine. He served for more than 30 years as a clinician and educator at the University of Washington and continues to contribute to medical education at the national level. Dr. Gardner also provides specialized rheumatology care to four Native American Tribes in Washington State. In addition to his medical career, Dr. Gardner is passionate about family history and enjoys sharing his research and teaching in this field. Outside of his professional pursuits, eh finds joy in traveling with his spouse and spending time with his six beloved grandchildren.
December 19, 2026 - "Show & Tell" Have you uncovered a fascinating ancestor, solved a stubborn brick wall, or found a photo, letter, or document that tells a story? Bring it to our December seminar!
This month, you're the speaker. Join fellow members for an afternoon of sharing discoveries, swapping research tips, and celebrating the finds that make genealogy so rewarding. Whether it's a DNA breakthrough, a surprising record, or a family heirloom with a story behind it, we want to hear about it.
Everyone is welcome to participate — no experience required, just bring your story!
This month, you're the speaker. Join fellow members for an afternoon of sharing discoveries, swapping research tips, and celebrating the finds that make genealogy so rewarding. Whether it's a DNA breakthrough, a surprising record, or a family heirloom with a story behind it, we want to hear about it.
Everyone is welcome to participate — no experience required, just bring your story!
January 16, 2027 - "Genealogy Grit: Persevering Through Tough Problems" by Carrie Taplin - Attendees will learn how to overcome the common roadblocks that lead many researchers to give up when answers become elusive. Moving beyond the frustration of missing records or broken links, the presentation explores "genealogical perseverance" through real-world examples of how to navigate general access problems and difficult-to-research ancestors. Participants will discover how to utilize advanced methodology and strategies - such as FAN Club, DNA analysis, and detailed timelines to solve complex identity problems involving individuals with identical names. By expanding their toolkit to include specialized search tools like WorldCat and ArchiveGRID, researchers will gain the skills and "grit" necessary to locate elusive digitized collections and online books, ensuring they never stop just because a single search failed to return results.
Speaker: Cari A. Taplin, CG is related to Roy Rogers. Or at least that's what her family told her. As a result, finding her true heritage has been her focus since 2000. She is a native of Wood County, Ohio but now lives in Longmont, Colorado. Cari holds the Certified Genealogist credential and has served in a wide variety of volunteer and leadership positions for local, state, and national societies. As the owner of GenealogyPANTS, she provides speaking services. She also lends help and shares her expertise as an administrator on the highly popular Facebook Group "The Genealogy Squad." Cari currently works for Ancestry ProGenealogists. Her personal research focuses on midwestern and Great Lakes states.
Speaker: Cari A. Taplin, CG is related to Roy Rogers. Or at least that's what her family told her. As a result, finding her true heritage has been her focus since 2000. She is a native of Wood County, Ohio but now lives in Longmont, Colorado. Cari holds the Certified Genealogist credential and has served in a wide variety of volunteer and leadership positions for local, state, and national societies. As the owner of GenealogyPANTS, she provides speaking services. She also lends help and shares her expertise as an administrator on the highly popular Facebook Group "The Genealogy Squad." Cari currently works for Ancestry ProGenealogists. Her personal research focuses on midwestern and Great Lakes states.
February 20, 2027 - "Using U.S. Church Records as a Brick Wall Strategy: Case Studies" - Finding an overseas ancestral hometown. Tracking a family from one place to another. Researching in a place with record loss. Identifying all the children of an ancestral couple. Finding (or verifying) a birth, marriage or death. Researching extended families. Searching for ancestors who were poor, non-English speaking, ethnic minorities or enslaved. Got any of these brick-wall situations? Learn how church records may be your saving grace.
Speaker - Sunny Jane Morton is an internationally-known genealogy speaker and award-winning writer and editor who helps people discover their roots, preserve their stories, and deepen their identity in meaningful ways. Her work spans multiple platforms. She is a Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine (US) and the Editor of NGS Magazine. As past Editor of Ohio Genealogy News, Sunny won an editing award from the National Genealogical Society. She is a past contributor to the blog at FamilySearch (the world's largest free genealogy website) and Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems podcast.Sunny lectured at the Library of Congress, RootsTech, GRIP Genealogy Institute, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and conferences across the United States and internationally. As lead author of the critically-acclaimed How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records (which won the National Genealogical Society's Award for Excellence), she is recognized as a leading expert in using religious records for genealogy research. Her newest publication is Searching for Sisters: Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States. It was supported in part by the Cushwa Center for American Catholicism at the University of Notre Dame. Sunny is an associate member of the Archivists for Congregations of Women Religious.
Speaker - Sunny Jane Morton is an internationally-known genealogy speaker and award-winning writer and editor who helps people discover their roots, preserve their stories, and deepen their identity in meaningful ways. Her work spans multiple platforms. She is a Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine (US) and the Editor of NGS Magazine. As past Editor of Ohio Genealogy News, Sunny won an editing award from the National Genealogical Society. She is a past contributor to the blog at FamilySearch (the world's largest free genealogy website) and Lisa Louise Cooke's Genealogy Gems podcast.Sunny lectured at the Library of Congress, RootsTech, GRIP Genealogy Institute, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and conferences across the United States and internationally. As lead author of the critically-acclaimed How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records (which won the National Genealogical Society's Award for Excellence), she is recognized as a leading expert in using religious records for genealogy research. Her newest publication is Searching for Sisters: Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States. It was supported in part by the Cushwa Center for American Catholicism at the University of Notre Dame. Sunny is an associate member of the Archivists for Congregations of Women Religious.
March 20, 2027 - Accessing NARA Records Remotely by Craig R. Scott, MA, CG, FUGA - The National Archives of the United States documents American history from the time of the First Continental Congress. There are a lot of paper, pictures, and other things, so much in fact that it requires organization. Organization means there are rules for how things will be filed and how they can be located once stored. Some can be found among the NARA partners on free and subscription websites; some require an understanding of finding aids; and some require visiting, hiring, or corresponding to access the records.
Speaker - Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG, FUGA is the author of The ‘Lost Pensions’: Settled Accounts of the Act of 6 April 1838 (Revised) and Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, Inventory 14 (Revised). His most recent work is Understanding Revolutionary War and Invalid Pension Ledgers, 1818 – 1872, and the Payment Vouchers They Represent. He has authored seventeen books and several articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, and other genealogical publications. He is the President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc., a genealogical publishing firm with over 10,000 titles in print. A professional genealogical and historical researcher for more than forty years, he specializes in military records, problem-solving, Quakers, and publishing. He is a Company of Military Historians member and on the National Genealogical Society Quarterly editorial board. He is a former Director of the Association of Professional Genealogists. He is the Vice-President of the APG Writer’s SIG. He has coordinated research tracks at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Samford University, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. He is currently their SLIG Guided Research and Consultation Track Coordinator, helping students solve brickwall problems. He is the host of the YouTube @Just Genealogy channel. He is a recipient of the Grahame T. Smallwood, Jr. Award and the UGA Silver Tray Award. He became a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association in 2014.
Speaker - Craig Roberts Scott, MA, CG, FUGA is the author of The ‘Lost Pensions’: Settled Accounts of the Act of 6 April 1838 (Revised) and Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, Inventory 14 (Revised). His most recent work is Understanding Revolutionary War and Invalid Pension Ledgers, 1818 – 1872, and the Payment Vouchers They Represent. He has authored seventeen books and several articles in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, and other genealogical publications. He is the President and CEO of Heritage Books, Inc., a genealogical publishing firm with over 10,000 titles in print. A professional genealogical and historical researcher for more than forty years, he specializes in military records, problem-solving, Quakers, and publishing. He is a Company of Military Historians member and on the National Genealogical Society Quarterly editorial board. He is a former Director of the Association of Professional Genealogists. He is the Vice-President of the APG Writer’s SIG. He has coordinated research tracks at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Samford University, the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy, and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh. He is currently their SLIG Guided Research and Consultation Track Coordinator, helping students solve brickwall problems. He is the host of the YouTube @Just Genealogy channel. He is a recipient of the Grahame T. Smallwood, Jr. Award and the UGA Silver Tray Award. He became a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association in 2014.
April 17, 2027 - "My Most Used Ancestry.com Tricks" by Aimee Cross - When you work in Ancestry every day, you learn where the real power is hiding and pick up a few tricks. In this presentation, Aimee shares the Ancestry tools, shortcuts, and search strategies she relies on most. From major time-savers to smarter searching techniques, you'll learn practical ways to build your family tree more efficiently and uncover features many users never realize exist - her professional secrets.
Speaker - Aimee Cross
Speaker - Aimee Cross
May 15, 2027 - "They Didn't All Come Through Ellis Island: Finding and Analyzing U.S. Passenger Arrival Lists" by Katherine R. Willson Learn how to trace your ancestors’ journeys by looking at passenger lists from three key time periods and understanding what each can tell you. Explore the major European ports people left from, the American ports they arrived in, and the reasons they chose those routes. Get practical guidance for following an ancestral voyage and making better sense of the records it left behind.
Speaker - Katherine R Willson (Dexter, Michigan) discovered her passion for family history at age eight while earning the “My Heritage” Girl Scout badge, and that early spark has grown into a lifelong pursuit. Today, she is a dynamic genealogy educator who presents at regional, national, and international events and is widely regarded for her engaging presentations.
Katherine has held leadership positions in numerous local, national, and professional genealogical organizations. She serves on the faculty of both the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the GRIP Genealogy Institute, teaching courses that explore the social, cultural, and economic forces shaping the lives and decisions of our ancestors.
As a full-time researcher for private clients, she specializes in Michigan’s pre-statehood families, the early pioneers of the Northwest Territory, and those who journeyed west during America’s expansion from 1787 to 1890, using historical context to build a fuller picture of their lives.
Through her website, SocialMediaGenealogy.com, Katherine shares free resources for family historians, including genealogy forms, oral history interview questions, and curated directories of genealogy-focused Facebook groups, YouTube channels, and podcasts.
Speaker - Katherine R Willson (Dexter, Michigan) discovered her passion for family history at age eight while earning the “My Heritage” Girl Scout badge, and that early spark has grown into a lifelong pursuit. Today, she is a dynamic genealogy educator who presents at regional, national, and international events and is widely regarded for her engaging presentations.
Katherine has held leadership positions in numerous local, national, and professional genealogical organizations. She serves on the faculty of both the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and the GRIP Genealogy Institute, teaching courses that explore the social, cultural, and economic forces shaping the lives and decisions of our ancestors.
As a full-time researcher for private clients, she specializes in Michigan’s pre-statehood families, the early pioneers of the Northwest Territory, and those who journeyed west during America’s expansion from 1787 to 1890, using historical context to build a fuller picture of their lives.
Through her website, SocialMediaGenealogy.com, Katherine shares free resources for family historians, including genealogy forms, oral history interview questions, and curated directories of genealogy-focused Facebook groups, YouTube channels, and podcasts.
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, CG, CGL - Did you know that Family Search is placing their recently digitized material online in less than 24 hours after it is scanned? Did you know that they were placing them, not in the Catalog, but in Images? Did you know that using "Full Text Search," you can conduct an all word search in certain documents? What is a Super Sleuth to do? We will learn how to access these two features of FS to find your ancestors. Treasures await!
- 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?
- May 16, 2026 - Working With atDNA, mtDNA, and YDNA in One Organized Endeavor by Kelli Bergheimer - One of the difficulties of working across many DNA testing companies and tracking data with multiple testers is organizing the information. Using a case study, the focus will be how to organize data into a running log to give a big-picture view of your next steps.
- June 20, 2026 - Get the Scoop on Your Ancestors with Newspapers by Lisa Louise Cooke - Yearning to "read all about it?" Newspapers are a fantastic source of research leads, information, and historical context for your family history. Learn the specialized approach that is required to achieve success in locating the news on your ancestors. Includes 3 Cool Tech Tools that will get you started.
- July 18, 2026 - Organizing and Identifying Photograph Collections by Ari Wilkins - We all have mounds of old unidentified family photos sitting in boxes. This lecture will offer step-by-step direction in organizing, preserving and cataloguing these precious collections for future generations. Learn how to identify, digitize and share collections using family trees and social media.
- September 19, 2026 - From Parlor to Platform: Women's Clubs and Organizations as Genealogical Sources by Barbara Coakley - Discover how the women's club movement of the late 1800s took women from the parlor into hospitals, schools, and civic office - and left behind records that document them in their own right, not through the men in their lives. Includes a case study of a women's organization and tips on where these records survive.
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