Highlights:

Engaging presentations from leading genealogical experts

Opportunity to win prizes from major genealogical companies

30-day access to seminar recordings for registered attendees

Special pricing available for Society members

Registration Details:

Registration begins: November 23, 2026

Early Bird Drawing: Register by December 31, 2026 for a chance to win

Final Registration Deadline: 5:00 PM, Friday, January 22, 2026

Register Here: [Insert Link]

Cost for the seminar:

Members: $35;

Non-members: $50

Cost of yearly membership to the Society is $20.00.

Program speakers and topics:

Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, FUGA, “Occupants, Owners or Nations: Native Rights to Land", The history of land in America doesn't begin with colonial grants to European settlers, and it doesn't end with the admission of Alaska and Hawaii as states. From King Philip's War to the Trail of Tears and beyond, genealogists must factor in the impacts of conflicts between the settlers and the Native tribes already occupying the land, and native rights to land as occupants, owners and nations.

Judy, The Legal Genealogist^®, is a genealogist with a law degree who provides expert guidance through the murky territory where law and family history intersect. An internationally-known lecturer and award-winning writer, she holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist^® and Certified Genealogical Lecturer^® from the Board for Certification of Genealogists^® and is a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association. Her blog is at https://www.legalgenealogist.com.

Lisa Medina, “Beyond Civil and Church Records: Digging Deeper into Mexican Research” Catholic parish records and Mexican civil registration records are the foundation of Mexican genealogical research—but they are only the beginning. This lecture introduces additional sources that can help break through research barriers, including censuses and padrones, newspapers, U.S. records, and published works. Participants will also learn about key repositories and resources, such as the Archivo General de la Nación (AGN), INEHRM, and municipal and state archives, to help them uncover new records and enrich their family history research.

Lisa is a professional genealogist and experienced lecturer who draws upon her background in teaching and training to create engaging and informative presentations. She is an alumna of several genealogical institutes and education programs, including ProGen, SLIG, and Gen-Fed, and specializes in Mexican genealogy. When not researching, Lisa serves as Dean of Enrollment Services at Palomar College in Southern California.

Deborah A. Abbott, PhD, “Breaking the Brick Wall: Researching in Black & White”, The most difficult part of family research for African Americans is locating enslaved ancestors and their enslavers. Using a case study, learn the importance of comparing clues, finding resources and utilizing collateral/cluster line research to enhance your research success. Beginning with the 1950 census, we will recreate an African American family’s journey from freedom to slavery.

Dr. Abbott is a professional genealogist specializing in African American research, manuscript collections, and genealogical methodology. She teaches at IGHR, SLIG, and TIGR, writes for major genealogy publications, appears on Ancestry Academy, and coordinates Cleveland Public Library’s Genealogy Clinic. She is active in numerous professional and community organizations.

Suzanne L. Hoffman, “Why is Jewish Research Different from All Other Research?” Presented as a play on the traditional "Four Questions" of the Passover Seder, this session explores the specific challenges that make Jewish family history research uniquely difficult. It examines the historical, geographical, and ethnic realities that complicate tracing lines to the past, the critical importance of collaborative research in overcoming standard brick walls, and where researchers can look to identify the connective ties within records.

Suzanne is the immediate Past President of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the current President of the Illinois State Genealogical Society, a member of the JGSI board, the Chicago Genealogical Society board, and some others conveniently forgotten. In real life she is a professional Forensic Genealogist. She also volunteers at the Wilmette FamilySearch Center and is the Advocacy Chair for Illinois with the Records Preservation and Access coalition. She has presented globally and is co-chair of the 2027 and 2028 IAJGS conferences.

Peggy Jude, “Ethnic Mysteries in Your DNA”, Do your DNA ethnicity estimates include unexplained regions? Your DNA holds centuries of history, but results aren't always straightforward. Stop letting confusing ethnicity estimates derail your research. This lecture equips you to look under the hood of your results. We will break down common questions, confidence ranges and trace percentages so you can uncover the true story within your genes.

Peggy is a nationally-known speaker and researcher who has been researching her family for over 40 years. She teaches in 5 genealogical areas: DNA, Genealogical Technology, Preserving Family History and Heirlooms, Methods and Records, and Swedish Genealogy. She was the co-course coordinator for the Foundations in DNA course at IGHR from 2023-2025 and regularly speaks at conferences, and to societies, across the US and Canada. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, a graduate of ProGen, and multiple advanced genealogical institutes. Peggy holds a BS in Zoology from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Mark Thompson, “Put Your Genealogical Files to Work With AI”, So much of your family history lives in files on your computer: downloaded records, transcriptions, research logs, and photographs. New AI assistants can now work with those files directly; no uploading is required.

You’ll see how Claude Desktop and ChatGPT Desktop can read your documents, organize them, and create new ones, turning a messy pile of records into clearly named folders in minutes. You’ll also learn about some important habits to develop when working this new way with AI.

Join Mark Thompson to unlock the answers already stored in your own files.

Mark Thompson is a professional genealogist, educator, and speaker who helps family historians put technology to work, from Artificial Intelligence to Genetic Genealogy, Excel, and Family Archiving. He co-hosts the Family History AI Show podcast with Steve Little, is a founding member of the Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy, and he serves as President of the Victoria Genealogical Society.