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Lake County Research

Welcome to KINSEEKERS Genealogical Society

Family History connects us.

To our ancestors. To who we are. To each other.

All experience levels welcome.

Theme for 2025-2026 Season:

FAN* Clubs & Communities

(*FAN = Friends, Associates, & Neighbors)

Scroll below to see details about our various programs

and Special Interest Groups (SIGs).


		Proud to partner with the Leesburg Public Library in offering genealogy and family history programs. LPL is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. This means enhanced access to FamilySearch records!

Pastfinders is our sister society, located in Clermont.

Visit their website for their full schedule of events: pastfindersslc.org.

MEMBERS:

The January update was emailed to members on 8 Jan.

Initial registration for the study group open 17 Jan. Info email sent 15 Jan.

(Please check your spam file if you don't receive it.)

Updates are also posted under Handouts and Updates in the Members Area.

JANUARY PROGRAM

Embracing Research Challenges: Case Studies

Saturday, 10 Jan, 10:30 - 11:45 am (ET) via Zoom

The recording from this program is available through 11 Feb 2026 in the members area.

Research challenges can seem daunting, but sometimes the hardest challenges turn into research that is exciting and full of unexpected a-ha moments. This is especially true when we have no choice but to think outside the box.

Join us for a unique and inspiring program that reminds us how embracing the joy of a challenge can result in amazing discoveries. Follow along, as two outstanding genealogists (and gifted speakers) each share how they successfully tackled a difficult research problem.

The key benefit of this program is not the records they consulted or the circumstances of their research subjects, but how they looked for, and discovered, hidden paths. In both cases, historical context, FAN clubs, and community characteristics played key roles.

Carly Morgan, JD, is a national genealogy speaker, educator, and advocate. Her topics include social media, digital organization, and advancing diverse family history research. She teaches for the Salt Lake Genealogical Institute (SLIG) and the National Genealogical Society's GRIP Genealogy Institute. She is also the founder of Family Tree Notebooks, a digital organization system.

Sunny Jane Morton is a genealogy educator, editor of the National Genealogical Society Magazine, and a longtime Contributing Editor at Family Tree Magazine. She is an expert in U.S. record types, particularly church records. She is the co-author of How to Find Your Family History in US Church Records and author of Story of My Life: A Workbook for Preserving Your Legacy. She also teaches for SLIG and GRIP.

DECEMBER PROGRAM

Fraternal and Other Membership Organizations

Saturday, 13 Dec, 10:30 - 11:45 am (ET) via Zoom.

The recording from this program is available through 1 Feb 2026 in the members area.

This month, we're continuing to build on our FAN Clubs & Communities theme with a detailed and informative program on fraternal and other membership organizations. Learn about the various types (i.e., social organizations, service societies, occupation-based groups, ethnic organizations, civic leagues, and more), how to find organization records, and the insights they can provide into the lives of your ancestors and their communities. More information for those resumes!

Katharine Korte Andrew is an author, genealogist, graphic designer, archivist, and historian based in Chicago. She holds a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) and a BA in Politcal Science and Germanic Studies. A member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, she specializes in researching German-speaking and Germanic ancestors. She is also a digital editor for Familty Tree Magazine and a former editor of the National Genealogical Society's online Monthly publication.

Family Tree Maker Course (via Zoom)

OUR MOST POPULAR PROGRAM IS BACK!

This 21-session course is updated for FTM's 2024 version.

Free for members & non-members. Attend some or all sessions.

EVENING Course (started 6 Jan)

1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 7:00 - 8:30pm (ET)

DAYTIME Course (started 2 Jan)

1st & 3rd Fridays, 11:00am - 12:30pm (ET)

The course provides a deep dive into Family Tree Maker, the world’s most popular genealogy software. Classes include live demos. Class pace is dependent on the input and feedback of participants. Led by Roger Goddard.

Non-Members: Register by emailing FTM@Kinseekers.org.

Members: Access via the link in the Members Area (under "Zoom Links").

(Society membership includes a significant discount on the FTM software. Details are under Member Perks in the Members Area.)

This course is separate from the FTM Special Interest Group (SIG). See SIG info below.

Family Tree Maker SIG

Led by Roger Goddard. Open to all.

DAYTIME:

2nd Wednesdays, 11:00am - 12:00pm (Eastern Time) via Zoom

4th Wednesdays, 11:00am - 12:00pm (ET) via Zoom

EVENING:
2nd Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:00pm (Eastern Time) via Zoom

4th Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:00pm (ET) via Zoom

This informal discussion & help session is for those using FTM genealogy software or thinking about using it. All are welcome!

Non-Members: Register by emailing FTM@Kinseekers.org.

Members: Access via the link in the Members Area (under "Zoom Links").

(Society membership includes a significant discount on the FTM software. Details are under Member Perks in the Members Area.)

NARA SIG

3rd Mondays, 7:00pm - 8:30pm (Eastern Time) via Zoom

Led by KB Barcomb. Open to all.

This is an informal and collaborative discussion group focusing on the US National Archvies (NARA). Open to all.

Have questions about the new catalog? Finding aids? Searching collections? Exploring the website's nooks & crannies? This group is here to help.

Have NARA-related questions or suggested topics? Put them in the comment box when registering.

Next session: Monday 19 Jan. Register here. (No session in Dec.)

Labor & Employment Records SIG

1st Mondays, 7:00pm - 8:30pm Eastern Time.

Led by Randall Dodds. Open to all.

This informal and collaborative discussion group focuses on researching ancestors in a wide variety of industries: agriculture, skilled trades, factories, and more.

If you have specific questions about labor and employment records, resources, or historical context, it helps if you submit them prior to the SIG. (Sooner is better.) Send them to Info.LaborSIG@gmail.com . We'll do our best to address all submissions.

Next session: 2 Feb. Register here.

Military Records & Research SIG (WWI/WW2)

2nd Mondays, 7:00pm - 8:30pm (Eastern Time) via Zoom

Led by KB Barcomb. Open to all.

This is an informal and collaborative discussion group focusing on WWI and WW2 military records and research methodology.

Questions on WWI & WW2 records and related topics are always welcome! Ask in the comment box when registering.

Next session: 9 Feb. Register here.

Black Family History SIG (1900-1950)

3rd Saturdays, 10:30 - 11:30 (Eastern Time) via Zoom
Led by Charles Wilson. Open to all.

This informal, diverse, and collaborative discussion group focuses on American History through the lens of Black family history during the pivotal decades from 1900 to 1950.

Next Session: 21 Feb. Register here.

Genealogy Help

Wednesdays

10:00 am - 1:00 pm (Eastern Time)

In-person, Leesburg Public Library

Society volunteers, in partnership with the Leesburg Public Library, are offering free genealogy assistance every week in the library's genealogy area.

No registration or appointment needed. Simply walk-in.

OCTOBER PROGRAM

The Three Rs: Reading, 'Riting, & Research in School Records

The recording from this program is available through 11 Apr 2026 in the members area.

This unique and highly informative lecture describes many of the various school records you may find in your research. These include all levels of education and both public and private education.

The bulk of the lecture covers primary school records, but also touches on high school, college, and specialty or institutional type schools. Because these records were kept every day, every month, every year, they can be critical to filling the gaps generated by periodic censuses and one-time events such as birth and death.

Paula Stuart-Warren, Certified Genealogist®, FMGS, FUGA is an internationally recognized genealogical educator. Her webinars, seminars, and courses are not to be missed...to include her hugely popular course "Digging Deeper: Records, Tools, and Skills" being offered online next June by the National Genealogical Society's GRIP Genealogy Institute.