PHILADELPHIA, PA –  This fall, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania in partnership with professional genealogist Sydney F. Cruice Dixon will host Foundations of Genealogy: Getting Started and Doing it Right the First Time, an 8-week course for family historians and genealogists seeking to become more effective and efficient researchers.

The course will run each Wednesday from September 30 through November 18, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m at HSP’s historic library in Center City, Philadelphia.

During each course session, registrants will learn the skills and explore the resources necessary to build a solid foundation in genealogy research. Ms. Cruice Dixon will explore how to conduct proper research, discuss the advantages/disadvantages of online genealogy resources, examine which historical records can reveal the most about researchers’ family histories, and more.

Over the 8-week course, registrants will learn proven research methods to root out their most elusive ancestors, as well as how to document research findings with reliable evidence. 

For beginner and experienced genealogists alike, Foundations of Genealogy is designed to equip researchers with the fundamental knowledge and expertise to develop new skills on their own, wherever their research may take them – whether online or in-person at libraries and archives.

The course has been capped at 30 registrants, allowing for a much more personal experience than other genealogy workshops and seminars. In addition to its educational content, the course offers a social opportunity for registrants to learn and develop as researchers with other family historians and genealogists.

Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania board members and volunteers will be available for an additional fee as guides to help registrants review collections and research strategies following each class. More information will be made available upon registration. 

Computer literacy and an Ancestry.com subscription are required. Registrants are encouraged to bring their laptops/tablet if possible.

Foundations of Genealogy is made possible through the support of the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter - The Association of Professional Genealogists,The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.

Foundations of Genealogy Details:

• When: Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., September 30 through November 18, 2015.
• Where: The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107.
• Tickets: $225 for members of HSP and GSP, $290 for non-members (which includes a 1-year membership to HSP).

To register, please click here.

Course Syllabus:

Class 1

• Introduction to the Four Elements of Genealogy
• The Genealogical Proof Standard
• Introduction to the Types of Genealogical Documents
• Introduction to Ancestry.com
• Records: Census Records

Class 2

• Preparing for Research and Organization
• Mastering Ancestry.com
• Records: Vital Records and Their Substitutes

Class 3

• Understanding and Citing Your Sources
• FamilySearch.org/Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints
• Records: Church Records

Class 4

• Evidence Analysis
• Tree Building and Timelines
• Records: Immigration and Naturalization Records

Class 5

• Correlation of Evidence
• The Reasoning Cycle
• Records: Just Google It!

Class 6

• Resolving Conflicts in Evidence
• Types of Repositories
• Records: Maps and City Directories

Class 7

• Reporting, Sharing and Writing up Conclusions
• Records: Newspapers and Periodicals

Class 8

• Reporting, Sharing and Writing up Conclusions
• Records: Military Records

For more information about Foundations of Genealogy, please contact Christopher Damiani, HSP’s Public Programs Manager, at (215) 732-6200 ext. 227 or cdamiani@hsp.org

About The Association of Professional Genealogists

About the Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists
The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) is an independent organization whose principal purpose is to support professional genealogists in all phases of their work: from the amateur genealogist wishing to turn knowledge and skill into a vocation, to the experienced professional seeking to exchange ideas with colleagues and upgrading the profession as a whole. The Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter of the association strongly promotes genealogical education and consultation as a way of exposing the public to members who support high standards in the field of genealogy and genealogical research. The Greater Philadelphia Area Chapter supports existing groups and programs that meet the requiements of the professional genealogist and those individuals who need professional advice and services.

About The Historical Society of Pennsylvania

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) is a provider of education and information for the people of Philadelphia and beyond. With over 21 million documents – including manuscripts, graphics, and ephemera – HSP serves more than 4,000 on-site researchers annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources online at hsp.org. HSP offers extensive online resources including digital collections, curricular materials, and hosts educator workshops, public programs and lectures throughout the year. To offer this array of programming and services, HSP relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support our mission of inspiring individuals to create a better future through historical understanding at hsp.org

HSP is also a chief center for the documentation and study of ethnic communities and immigrant experiences in the 20th-century, and one of the largest family history libraries in the nation. HSP’s collections center on eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and parts of Delaware and Maryland, but they also include a wealth of materials on the eastern U.S., the founding of this country, and the diversity of ethnic and immigrant experiences across the nation, thanks to the addition of the holdings of the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies in 2002.

About The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania

The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania’s (GSP) mission is to provide leadership and support in promoting genealogy through education, preservation, and access to Pennsylvania-related genealogical information. Founded in 1892 as a non-profit organization, GSP was among the first in the United States to recognize the value of collecting and preserving the vital and personal records of those ancestors whose lives now comprise our American History. GSP is committed to preserving and publishing previously unpublished primary sources. The continuing dedication to this service enables the Society to make an increasingly significant contribution to the cultural life of our city, state, and country. Each year, the Society conducts conferences, alone or in conjunction with other societies, offering lectures and workshops for all levels of research. GSP’s Program Committee sponsors lectures and/or field trips conducted by outstanding genealogists.