Event Education-Beyond the Census: Finding Your Ancestor in Federal Records

Beyond the Census Record: Finding Your Ancestor in

Federal Records by Sandy Rumble

One of the first record collections new genealogists access is the U.S. Federal Census. It identifies family units, residence, occupation, family relationships, home ownership, and marital status. What more could you want? Hidden in the vaults of the National Archives are first person, narrative, detail rich packets about our ancestors in the military, land, Congressional, State Department, and court records. The National Archives publishes finding aids (indexes) providing a way to easily identify our ancestors. Join us to explore these finding aids and look at examples of what can be found by asking NARA for these paper records.

Sandy started her career as a software developer and trainer, and for over 30 years, she has designed curriculum for cutting-edge software products. Expanding on her interest in teaching, Sandy speaks about military research, Colonial Pennsylvania, lineage research, and research planning. Sandy has taught classes at genealogical institutes, GRIP, SLIG & TIGR, at conferences, as well as genealogical and historical societies. Sandy is coordinating Researching Penn’s Colony for GRIP in July 2026, has coordinated Documentation for Lineage Societies, and has co-coordinated Answering the Call of Uncle Sam, an exploration of 18th- & 19th-century American military records.

Access will be through GoToWebinar.  Instructions and Connectivity Link will be forwarded via email to all registrants upon registration, six days prior and again 1 hour prior to the event.  Making the connection is quick and easy only requiring a computer and Internet connectivity from wherever you chose to watch the event. Your questions help drive the meetings, and we will be there to help each other.