Every family has stories, but are they true? This seminar, taught by genealogy expert John Colletta, provides practical and time-saving information so you can learn about the process of researching the true stories of your ancestors and then writing an engaging account for future generations.

Unraveling the past from scraps of evidence buried in old records, maps, newspapers, and photographs is fascinating detective work, but linking generation to generation is only half the challenge. Learning about your ancestors as human beings filled with motives and aspirations, personality quirks and character flaws, is the other half. By reconstructing these lives, you discover who you are and why—because it’s all in the genes.

9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Home Sources, the Internet, and Making the Most of the Library of Congress.

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. County Courthouse Resources and Using our Astounding National Archives.

12:15 to 1:45 p.m. Lunch
Participants provide their own lunch.

1:45 to 3 p.m. Writing the Narrative I: A Reliable Account for Future Generations.

3:15 to 4:30 p.m. Writing the Narrative II: A Readable Story for Everyone.

Colletta worked at the Library of Congress, taught workshops at the National Archives, and is widely published in the field of genealogy.  He has been described as one of the "rock stars" in the world of genealogy speakers.