Presentations

Eilene is available to give presentations about genealogy, family history, and research topics. The following are a few that she has done in recent years. Other topics are listed below. You may also request something not listed. Contact me for availability.

Credentials

  • Author of two nonfiction books involving family history, specializing in the 19th century
  • Genealogical and family history researcher for 25 years
  • Degrees in accounting and environmental biology (minors in GIS and Chemistry)
  • Former real estate broker
  • Articles published in Latah Legacy and Michigan History magazines
  • Experienced public speaker, regionally, nationally, and Zoom!

Eureka!

You might be surprised by how many people on your family tree went to California. Learn how to find them, even if their trip fell between census years.

What Lies Beneath Colorado

Learn about the research behind Eilene’s second book, What Lies Beneath Colorado: Pioneer Graveyards and Cemeteries. She will talk about cemeteries, source materials, and some of the stories she uncovered during the 13 months she had to research and write the book.

Dear Diary

Eilene shares some of the resources used to tell the story of her gold rush ancestors and other relatives. Even if your ancestors left no self-written documents, the ones by their contemporaries can serve in their place. She provides research strategies for finding these valuable records to use for your own family stories.

The Price of Pacifism

During the American Revolution, Patriots decried tyranny and espoused the cause of freedom. At the same time, they in turn tyrannized and deprived certain groups of people of their liberty, their fellow Americans.

Road Trips

Eilene shares tips for preparing for research trips by digging into archive sites to create an organized plan. She also expands the definition of archive to ensure you get the most from your time on the road.

Bounty Land Records

U.S. bounty lands have been issued to veterans dating back to the Revolution. Learn about the history of these records, how to request them, and what types of documentation these files contain. Bounty land application files can fill in gaps in military service records and offer clues about family relationships.

Property Records and Maps

Property records and maps drive family history storytelling. Learn about various record types, where to find them, and what information can be gleaned from them. Maps can help you visualize the context of your ancestor’s lives. You may even discover that old family homes still exist!

Brick Walls

Sometimes we do not realize that a brick wall is of our own making. Learn how to find the keystone that will bring the wall tumbling.

Death in 19th-Century America

If we want to understand how our ancestors lived, we also need to understand how they died and how they dealt with death. This talk covers some of the diseases and conditions that killed your ancestors before modern medical “miracles” made them a thing of the past.

Trip Around the World

On July 4, 1894, Dr. Ransom’s dream journey—an educational and scientific trip around the world—launched from South Haven, Michigan. Two weeks later, on a supply trip to Chicago, Dr. Ransom left his hotel room…and vanished.

Other topics

  • Overlooked records: What you can learn from lawsuits. Our ancestors relied heavily on Justices of the Peace and local courts to settle disputes, even more so than today.
  • My DNA matches have completely different trees. What now?! Non-parental events are a common discovery when doing DNA research. How to follow the leads presented in your matches.
  • Immortal words: Keep your family history alive with a lively blog Best practices to make your family history blog successful.
  • Capt. E.D. Pierce: The Myth and the Man. Capt. E.D. Pierce was the first to summit Mount Shasta, and started the Clearwater gold rush that led to the creation of Idaho. But he hid his family past. A case study in finding a historical figure’s roots.
  • Extra! Extra! Using newspaper research to develop a family history story. Newspapers have a unique ability to bring the past alive. Be sure to include the news in every family history.
  • John Annable: United Empire Loyalist. Annable arrived in America just before the start of the Revolution. Naturally, he fought for the British, and wound up in Canada.
  • San Juan Sagas: A family history derived from an antique store photograph. How researching an old photograph can reveal local history tales.
  • What does it say? Reading and transcribing old documents. Transcription is a tedious, but necessary, process so that you don’t have to keep re-reading difficult documents.
  • Immersion: Developing a FAN-based local history. Understanding local history and focusing particularly on your ancestor’s friends and associates will enrich your understanding of their lives and help you build compelling family history stories.
  • Get Organized: Compiling a large research and writing project. Using Zotero, Scrivener, and Word to organize your research and write your book.