Hi all, I've volunteered to teach a beginner genealogy class at a Caledonia (Racine Co.) Historical Society sponsored program this upcoming spring. I was wondering if anyone on this list has ever taught a beginner genealogy class and would have pointers for me. Is there someone out there in WIGEN-L Land that could share a class outline with me so that I can compare with my outline? I don't want to miss any important points. TIA, Michelle Laycock Racine/Kenosha WIGenWeb

At 06:42 AM 1/26/04 -0800, you wrote: >Hi all, > >I've volunteered to teach a beginner genealogy class at a Caledonia (Racine Co.) Historical Society sponsored program this upcoming spring. > >I was wondering if anyone on this list has ever taught a beginner genealogy class and would have pointers for me. Is there someone out there in WIGEN-L Land that could share a class outline with me so that I can compare with my outline? I don't want to miss any important points. > >TIA, >Michelle Laycock >Racine/Kenosha WIGenWeb This is quasi-related I suppose (the moderator will be the judge of that) = :) A couple of months ago I gave a couple of PC lessons on a county list that I host. While most liked the idea, some did not - so I'm creating another list - actually reviving a non-used list to post items that should be helpful for folks and their computers. If you are interested in joining such a list, please email me privately at [email protected] Please include PC tips in your subject line along with this list name so I can quickly identify your email. Tim Stowell Crawford, Richland

I taught a beginning genealogy course several times over the past few years. I have a course outline, but it does NOT refer to computer genealogy, which has expanded since I wrote this outline. Here is the outline for 15 classes, for what it is worth, with my comments about what I would add, delete at the end. This is always great review for everyone. 1. Introduction to Genealogy Basic Rules Lineage Charts Group Sheets Work Log/diary of research 2. Getting Started Family Data - stories, traditions and anecdotes -family bible records Writing letters (distribute sample letter) Interviewing elderly relatives (#1 priority) 3. Cemetery Records Using Cemetery Data Cemetery Plat Maps Tombstone Inscriptions Rubbings 4. Other Local Records Newspaper Church 5. Documentation of Research Data Research log/diary Priorities (original or copy? or someone's transcription of original?) Avoiding 'correctionitis' (transcribe documents 'as written') 6. Vital Records births marriages deaths 7. Other Sources Court records divorce probate County Histories biographies 8. Census Records Federal State understanding Soundex (distribute sheet) 9. Military Records Pension Land 9b. Immigration and Passenger Ship Lists 10. Deeds and Maps County Plat Maps Abstracts (now disappearing and replaced by title insurance) 11. Misc. Sources Genealogical Organizations Genealogical Publications Libraries 12. Preserving Documents (see Fond du Lac Co website) 13. Organization of your collection Importance of yearly review 14 Publishing your History When and How Title Page 15. Course review, Critique and Graduation This was written about 10 years ago. Now, the class on citing sources needs to detail how to cite internet sources. Also, I would place more emphasis on determining the many different types of jurisdictions that records can fall in. For example, there are Federal records.....determine where Federal records for your county are located....also, church records... determine whether there is a diocisan division for church records........Catholic records for Fond du Lac are part of the Milwaukee archdiocese, and so can also be found in the diocesan headquarters etc. I would place more emphasis on the importance of determining all the different jurisdictions, than what I did 10 years ago.