GenSocSoup Webinars Available: These are the 15 base webinar recordings currently available for the GenSocSoup Subscription Channel subscribers.

• 10 Must Haves for Genealogy and Family History Success
  Whether you’re just “dabbling” in genealogy and researching your roots, or you’ve become a “hard core lifer” obsessed with “the hunt,” there are basic skills that family historians of all levels have in common. We’ll review those skills that can help you find success researching online or in-person.

• AI and Genealogy: Using AI to Create Better Family Stories and Narratives
  Discover how artificial intelligence can help you transform dry genealogical facts into rich, engaging family stories. As new AI tools become increasingly accessible, family historians have powerful opportunities to enhance their writing, deepen their research, and share their heritage in meaningful new ways.Learn how to use AI ethically and responsibly to overcome writer’s block, improve narrative flow, clarify complex historical contexts, and bring ancestors to life on the page. Whether you’re writing a family history book, preparing blog posts, crafting ancestor biographies, or simply seeking to make your research more meaningful, this session will give you the tools and confidence to use AI in a way that enhances—not replaces—your skills as a storyteller.

• Can I Use That In My Genealogy? What You Should Know About Copyright
  Are you aware that certain documents and photos that are part of your family history research may be restricted by copyright? Don’t panic – you can still use them in your genealogy! But understand how to determine if an item is copyrighted and how it can and can’t be used. Learn the basics of US copyright law and how you can still use copyrighted items such as documents, articles and photographs as part of your genealogy research.

• Citing Sources and Evaluating Evidence
  More and more genealogists are evolving from “name collectors” to “serious researchers.” Most realize the need to cite sources and evaluate evidence before data is added to a family tree. Here are ways to not only make the process easier, but to also get most out of your research data.

• Don’t Chop Off That Branch! A Genealogy Arborist’s Handbook
  You’re at a crossroads when it comes to years of genealogy research: should you delete an entire branch of your family tree due to faulty research? Or is there a better way to correct family history research errors and salvage information that took years to find? Participants will learn the best ways to resolve genealogical research errors that normally would result in sawing off several branches of your family tree. Using a real example, see the different paths you could chose to correct bad research and still retain that branch of your tree!

• Futureproofing Your Genealogy – Staying Up-To-Date on Technology
  Genealogy is changing faster than ever—and staying current with technology is now essential for every family historian. In this forward-looking webinar, genealogy expert Thomas MacEntee helps you cut through the noise and understand which tools, trends, and tech skills truly matter for your research.Whether you’re just starting to explore new tools or you’re already tech-savvy, this session will show you how to adapt, evolve, and thrive as technology continues to reshape genealogical research. Whether your goal is to modernize your methods, streamline your research, safeguard your files, or simply feel less overwhelmed by constant technological change, this webinar will empower you to futureproof your genealogy with clarity and confidence.

• Getting the Genealogy Records You Need – Privacy Laws and FOIA
  Accessing the right records is the foundation of great genealogical research—but privacy laws, restricted collections, and government red tape can make the process challenging. In this essential webinar, genealogy expert Thomas MacEntee guides you through the often-confusing landscape of records access, explaining how laws, regulations, and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) affect your ability to obtain the documents you need.Designed for genealogists of all experience levels, this session demystifies the rules and helps you develop effective, ethical strategies for working with government agencies, archives, and record custodians.

• Getting the Most Out of a Census Record
  Census records are one of the most important types of genealogical records, containing a wealth of information you may not find in vital records and allowing you to track your ancestors’ progress over time. We’ll do a deep dive into census records and learn some tips and tricks for extracting as much information as possible from each record.

• Google Tools for Genealogy
  Most genealogists are only using 10% or less of the resources behind Google when it comes to research. Learn about the other 90% and how these Google components can be leveraged for better search results. Google is more than just a search engine – it is a wealth of information much of which goes unnoticed by the average genealogist. Besides search, Google allows you to access maps, books, journals, abstracts, patents and much more. These components may be what is needed to make advances in your genealogy research.

• Navigating the Seven C’s of Genealogy
  Do genealogy “resolutions” really work? How about setting genealogy “goals” or “themes” instead? Here is a developed a list of seven “themes” to guide you this year and hopefully you can institute these as general “rules to do genealogy by” over the next few years. The themes cover most areas of concern for every family historian, whether you’ve been at this for some time or you are just getting started. Participants will learn how to focus on seven key areas in genealogy research: Clean, Collect, Curate, Create, Connect, Conserve and Continue.

• Self-Publishing for Genealogists
  Advances in recent technology have made it possible to no longer be tied to a publishing house or printer for your next genealogy book. Self-publishing puts control over the entire process in the hands of the genealogist to reach a wider audience. There are many benefits to self-publishing but you should know the difference between digital and print and what your audience wants. Learn the ins and outs of the self-publishing world including vendors and providers, the self-publishing process and even how to format your printed work for e-book selling. Genealogists can benefit greatly from the “print on demand” methodology which is revolutionizing the publishing world.

• Tech Troubleshooting – What Would You Do?
  Let’s face it. Dealing with technologies used for genealogy research is often a hassle, especially if you’re not a “digital native.” Learn the basics of tech troubleshooting, how to contact a tech vendor and get results, the best ways of finding tech help online, and how to create a “tech troubleshooting protocol” for future problems. We will also cover some of the most frequent tech problems and solve them collaboratively as a group.

• The Other Census – US State and Territorial Censuses
  Frequently genealogists will focus strictly on the US Census records and forget that many of the US states and territories conducted their own census at some point. Learn which states and territories have these amazing records, how to access them, and how to incorporate them into your genealogy research. Participants will learn how to determine if a specific state or territory conducted their own census and when. In addition, we’ll cover how to access these records both online and in-person at various repositories. Finally, we’ll review how to take state and territorial census data and incorporate it into your current genealogy research.

• US and Canada Newspaper Resources and Strategies
  While online newspaper resources are plentiful for United States and Canada research, finding the best websites and tools to collect data can be a treasure hunt. Learn how to find the best historic newspaper sites (free and paid) and how to properly capture images and text to improve your genealogical research.

• What’s Been Done: Using Someone Else’s Genealogy Research
  Many of us as genealogists have inherited research from a relative and we are not always sure whether the content is reliable? What’s the best way to incorporate the research of others into your own research without leading to dead ends, roadblocks and unnecessary detours? Here’s a road map on the best way to handle “outside research” and benefit from it as you combine the content with your own research.