Registration for genealogy classes at Tri-County Community College during the Fall 2015 semester is now open. We are offering a wide variety of genealogy classes on either Tuesday night (short courses) or our most popular course on doing genealogy on the Internet (Thursday nights). You can get more details by calling Lisa Long at TCCC at 828-835-4241 during normal business hours.
Genealogy: How to Research Your Family History on the
Internet
The Internet offers a wonderful array of databases, records,
and other resources for researching your family tree online. Knowing how and
where to search online is a must for any genealogist using the Internet. In the
past few years there have been major changes to nearly all the major online
genealogy research websites and record repositories. This course will teach you
how to search like a pro, find genealogy databases, and discover your family
history on the Web. All the top sites such as Ancestry, FamilySearch, Fold3,
GenealogyBank, National Archives, Google, Mocavo and many more will be covered.
Students will learn tips and tricks on using these resources, and how to put
them to use in their family research plans. While our beginner genealogy class
is not required to take this course, a basic understanding of genealogy
research principles is strongly recommended. We also recommend a laptop or
tablet capable of wireless internet access to be brought to this class. This is
the most popular genealogy class available at TCCC and seating for this class
is limited.
August 27 - November 19 6:30pm - 9:00pm Thursday,
13 weeks
Genealogy: DNA - Using Genetic DNA Testing in Family History
Research
Science can help you with your genealogy research, but you
will have to take a test first. That test is a low cost autosomal DNA test
available at Ancestry, Family Tree DNA and 23andMe. This course will cover the
new and expanding field of genetic genealogy basics and is designed for DNA
newbies and advanced genetic genealogists who want to get the most from their
DNA testing. Some of the topics to be covered include an introduction to DNA
testing and technical terms, the different types of autosomal DNA tests
available, how DNA testing will help your genealogy research, what are your
ethnic origins and how to interpret and document your results. Special emphasis
will be given to the AncestryDNA autosomal test. If you want to demystify
genetic genealogy, and you want to use this new and exciting research tool in
your family history study, then this course is for you.
August 25 - September 22 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m Tuesday,
4 weeks
Genealogy: Cemetery Research - Introduction to Cemetery
Research
Digging up family history isn't always easy, but the key to
making a breakthrough may be as close as your ancestor's final resting place.
This new genealogy course will cover the fascinating practice of cemetery
research. You will learn to determine where and when a person died, locate the
cemetery where they are interred, how to analyze headstones and markers, and a
whole lot more. In this course you discover a whole new way to unearth your
family history in the cemetery.
September 29 - October 13 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Tuesday,
3 weeks
Genealogy: Using Probate Records in Genealogy Research
The passing of a loved one is a trying time in any family,
but the death of that ancestor can provide a wealth of valuable information to
the family historian. Probate records exist in places and for time periods when
few other records are available. These records are essential for research
genealogy research because they often pre-date the birth and death records kept
by civil authorities. Even if your ancestor didn't leave a will, he or she may
have been a beneficiary, witness or trustee in someone else's will. In this new
genealogy course we will cover where to find probate records, what records
should you be looking for, what is included in the probate package, the steps
involved in probate, and estate inventories - how to use them. This course will help you
uncover genealogy information in these potentially intimidating (and often,
underused) records.
October 20 - October 27 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Tuesday,
2 weeks
Genealogy: This Land Is Your Land - Introduction to Using
Land Records in Genealogy Research
Do you have an ancestor's deed or land patent? Were your
ancestors among the millions who claimed federal lands under the Homestead Act
of 1862? Want to do find your ancestor's land records? In the real estate world
they say it’s all about Location, Location, Location! And the same holds true
in the world of genealogy. Location is a key element in understanding the
context of our ancestor’s lives and obtaining coveted genealogical documents.
To get closer to our ancestors, we need to get closer to their land. This is a
new introductory course on land records and genealogy research that will cover
locating documents of ownership in the courthouse or online, accurately
interpreting and recording what you find, and use maps, atlases, and gazetteers
to focus your efforts in the right area.
November 3 November 17 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Tuesday,
3 weeks