The Ohio Historical Center is holding several workshops this fall to help genealogy buffs learn more about climbing their family trees. Digging through probate. On Oct. 28, Understanding The Probate Process will be offered from 1-4 p.m. at the Ohio Historical Center. When a person is deceased, the probate process prescribes the disposition of his or her assets. Very often the probate file is a veritable gold mine of genealogical information. This course describes the probate process both when there is a will and when no will exists. It explains the legal language involved so that one is able one to recognize various documents and understand their purpose. The value of other court cases as genealogical date sources is also discussed as well as the relevance of land records involved in probate. Photography clues. Putting the Clues Together: Learning More About Your Family Photographs will also be offered at the center Oct. 28. The seminar, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., will focus on 19th and early 20th century photography. Participants will sharpen observation skills and learn how to date a photograph can give you new tools to use when doing family genealogy and research. Those attending are encouraged to bring a photograph or two. Vital statistics. The Cornerstones of Genealogy will be offered from 10 a.m. to l p.m. Oct. 30 at the Ohio Historical Center. This course establishes the foundation for all further genealogical research. It describes the uses and sources of vital statistics, census records, land records, and probate files. The class also includes topics such as military records, church records, identifying female ancestors, importance of source documentation, news papers, family portraits, obscure sources, and record preservation. Each class has registration fee and deadlines for registering. Call 614-297-2666 or 800-686-1541 for details. Bill Takacs - btakacs@nccw.net