Family History Presentations
Your organization strives to meet the needs and wants of its members. At Heroes of the Past, we can make that happen with informative yet fun genealogy presentations. We can tailor a presentation for your group, or you can choose from our popular and already prepared topics. Length of presentations can be varied to meet the needs of your organization and we can present in person or virtually.
Current Presentations
Back to Basics
Often, when we begin our family history journey, we dive right in and begin without considering where we are going to keep our family story, how we are going to make sure it is available for our decedents, what is the easiest way to keep it organized, and other basic concepts. Back to Basics is for the beginning Family Historian, even if you have been researching for a while. You will get the information you need to make sure your family history will not get lost or destroyed, how to ensure your family history is error free, and how to keep it organized so you can find the information you need when you need it. You will learn how to start and build on your research in a focused manner using tools you can access from home, for free!
Starting Your Family Tree
I just go online and start building my family tree…right? Not so fast. There are many things to consider before you start your family tree that will save you time and headaches later. We will discuss these, and then go over some basic steps that will make your tree building easy and fun!
Genealogy Pitfalls
Mistakes are easier to avoid if you know what they are! Learn what the top genealogy mistakes are so you don’t include them in your family tree!
Migration Through the South
Ever wonder how your ancestors got here? What did they go through during the trip? This presentation will explore how and why our ancestors migrated from Europe to the Mid-Atlantic and along the Gulf Coast. Topics include migration patterns, how transportation developed, modes of transportation, the perils of travel, how to determine probable migration routes, and covers the colonial period through the early twentieth century.
You Just Thought You Owned That Land!
Land ownership in the Southern US was a mess in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Between different countries giving the same land as gifts, to the Yazoo Land Fraud, landowners could not be certain if they were going to be able to keep their homes or not! Let’s spend some time trying to untangle this mess!
Creating Context
Context is how we make our family trees come alive! Adding context changes our ancestors from names and dates to people who are our family of the past. Although building context around our ancestors may be a little more challenging, it is definitely more rewarding. Together we will learn how and where to discover the details that will bring your family tree to life!
Runaway Scrape
In 1835, events in Coahuila y Tejas began which led to the mass exodus of Texian refugees toward the Louisiana border. This presentation gives a brief overview of the events in Mexico that caused the panic in Texas, then tells the story of the people of Texas and their difficult escape to the safety of the United States, and their return back home. Learn how studying this and similar events can reveal information about your early Texas ancestors.
The Greatest Texan
Who do you think did the most for the new Republic, and later the state, of Texas? Sam Houston, Stephen F Austin, Lorenzo de Zavala? The identity of the Texas founder who did the most for the new Republic will probably surprise you! Learn about this amazing man who dedicated his life to early Texas.
Going to the Courthouse
Ever wonder what treasures await you in the courthouse where your ancestor lived? This presentation will help you prepare for your visit before you leave, and then show you what records to look for and what gems you might find! Although examples will be of Texas courthouses, the principles will apply anywhere. After all, our ancestors got married, served on jury duty, got sued, and owned land in every county in the US!
Dead Men Talking
It seems counter intuitive, but a person’s death often involved more public records than any other event in their life. This presentation will go over the multitude of records that could be available upon a person’s demise.
Grow Your Society Through Quality Events
Holding a Genealogy Event can do more to promote your society and at the same time raise some money than many other efforts. Whether you want to bring in a speaker, hold a genealogy class, or just have an open house, learn what needs to be done and when it needs to happen to put on a successful event.
So You Wanna Go Pro
Making the change from occasionally recording your own family’s history to doing professional level work is a big step. Unfortunately, the resources to guide you are not always easy to come by, and are in several different places. This presentation will explain the difference and identify which resources will be most helpful if you want to “up your game.”
Deep Dive into the U.S. Census
The U.S. Census, although not perfect, is one of our most complete family history tools, and one that many take for granted. Are you using it to it’s potential? Are you using the pre-1850 census to identify children’s birth dates and separate all the “Jones” living in one county? Are you using the census to find missing ancestors or track migration? These things and much, much more can be learned from the U.S. Census. This presentation is presented as a beginner or intermediate session, or can be used as a two session workshop
Mapping Your Ancestors using Google Earth
Google Earth is a free tool we can use to find the exact location where our ancestor’s lived. Using available records and a few additions (which we cover in the presentation) you can see where your ancestor’s home location and what conditions were like for them. Find out how to discover landmarks close to their homes which may lead to further insight about their daily lives.
Mapping Your Texas Ancestors using the General Land Office and Google Earth
Land records in Texas are different than the rest of the country, but we can still find out where our ancestor’s were living in the Lone Star State. Using land records, the Texas General Land Office web site, and Google earth we can zoom in on our ancestor’s homes.
** These two presentations can be combined into a workshop, with one session on where to find your ancestor’s location and another on using mapping software.
In depth Ancestry or FamilySearch
Most of us are familiar with these genealogy search websites, but they both offer vastly more than most people use. This presentation will take you in depth into Ancestry or FamilySearch and show you the secrets and what these sites are capable of doing to make you a more effective researcher!
Where Did They Live?
There are many records that can help us find where our ancestor’s were living. Some you are familiar with, some may have never occurred to you. Let’s explore how we can locate those elusive ancestors
Genealogy Classes
We offer genealogy classes, starting with a complete beginner and continuing thru intermediate level training. Classes can be for 2-8 sessions and can start at any skill level.
More Research-Less Time
Experts agree that time is one of our most valuable assets, and once it is gone, you can never get it back. This presentation will give you tips you can use to fit the most research into the time you spend on your Family History.
Custom Presentations
Heroes of the Past will be pleased to present a custom presentation to your organization on any Family History topic. Contact us to discuss you needs further.
Looking for Some Ideas?
Click here for more presentation ideas