- Description
- Curriculum
Tracing families as they “moved west” can be a daunting task. As our ancestors explored the wilderness in front of them, fewer detailed records were created, leaving large gaps in the resources needed to reconstruct a complete family record. Further, rapid economic, social, and territorial expansions throughout the Federal period caused massive waves of migration and other movements of our ancestors. The development of the Northwest Territory, New York’s land companies, the Louisiana Purchase, the Second Great Awakening, and the War of 1812 are just a few of the dynamic events that shaped the lives of our ancestors from 1780 to 1850.
Bridging the Gap focuses on strategies and records for tracing families from New England to the Midwest between 1780 and 1850, grounded in the historical context of this vibrant period in American history. Specific topics will explore key New England and Midwestern sources, migration patterns, manuscript materials, historical overviews, military records, land and property acquisition, and a series of case studies, which document various techniques to trace Midwestern families to their New England roots. Specific focus is placed upon tracing families who passed through New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio (though other states are also included in the various course activities and sessions).
Day 1
Historical Overview, 1780-1850
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Effective Use of New England’s Essential Resources
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Establishing the Fundamentals: Tax Records, Local Histories, State Censuses and more
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Utilizing 19th and 20th Century Compiled Genealogies
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Day 2
Pathways from New England to the Midwest, 1780-1850
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
The Erie Canal and the Opening of the Midwest
Instructor: Annette Burke Lyttle, CG, MA
Before Roads and Rails: Waterways to the Midwest
Instructor: Annette Burke Lyttle, CG, MA
Crossing Borders: Tracing Families Between Canada, New England, and New York during the Federal Period
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Day 3
New York Land: Beyond the Deeds
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Land Entry Papers and Records of the General Land Office
Instructor: Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
Bounty Land Applications: Federal Land Records at the National Archives
Instructor: Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
Understanding Ohio and Pennsylvania Land Records
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Day 4
Mothers, Daughters, Wives: Tracing Female Lines
Instructor: Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL
Religious Revivals and their Records, 1780-1850
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
From the Common to the Uncommon: Migrating the Law
Instructor: Judy Russell, JD, CG, CGL
The Serial Set, American State Papers, and the Territorial Papers
Instructor: Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
Day 5
Resources of the DAR to Bridge the Gap
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
The War of 1812: Records and Strategies
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Three Generations, Seven Migrations: Following the Boones from Massachusetts to Illinois
Instructor: Annette Burke Lyttle, CG, MA
The Clark Family, Connecticut to Michigan
Instructor: D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Courses run Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:00 pm MST.
Coordinated by D. Joshua Taylor, MA, MLS, FUGA
Faculty:
