Program Materials 2026
Thanks to the generosity of our speakers, we are able to make handouts and recordings of webinars from many of our past meetings available to DGS members.
- Program Materials Index – all available recorded webinars and handouts
- January 2026: ‘The American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress’
- February 2026: ‘A House Divided: Research in the Civil War. Part I’
- March 2026: ‘A House Divided: Research in the Civil War. Part II’
- April 2026: ‘Reconstructing the Lives of Our Farming Ancestors’
- May 2026: Handwritten Text Recognition: ‘Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence to Transcribe and Search’
- September 2026: ‘The Hundreds of Delaware’
- October 2026: ‘Preserving Memories for Generations.’
Presentations in PDF can be printed and/or downloaded. Please do not distribute or republish this member-only material without the express permission of DGS and the event presenter. This material is for your reference only.
Please do not share links to the recorded webinars. They are available only to DGS members.
Thank you.
Meeting Materials 2026
January 2026: ‘The American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress’
With speaker Shannon Combs-Bennett, you will learn about an amazing collection of digital items in the American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress. Take a tour of the site from your own home and learn how this collection can aid your research.
February 2026: ‘A House Divided: Research in the Civil War. Part I’
With speaker Michael L. Strauss, AG, this two-part lecture examines the extensive military and civilian records—including service files, pensions, and draft registrations—used to trace soldiers, sailors, and marines on both sides of the American Civil War. Participants will gain in-depth strategies for navigating these genealogical materials to uncover the personal and historical narratives of ancestors impacted by the conflict between 1861 and 1865.
March 2026: ‘A House Divided: Research in the Civil War. Part II’
With speaker Michael L. Strauss, AG, this two-part lecture examines the extensive military and civilian records—including service files, pensions, and draft registrations—used to trace soldiers, sailors, and marines on both sides of the American Civil War. Participants will gain in-depth strategies for navigating these genealogical materials to uncover the personal and historical narratives of ancestors impacted by the conflict between 1861 and 1865.
April 2026: ‘Reconstructing the Lives of Our Farming Ancestors’
It’s a rare family tree that doesn’t contain at least some farm families, since until the latter part of the 19th century, farmers made up a majority of workers in America. It may be hard for us to envision what daily life was like for our farming ancestors as we try to recover their stories, and we may be tempted to say our ancestors were “just farmers.” But farm families were remarkable people. Learn how genealogical records and social history resources can help us reconstruct the life stories of your farming ancestors with Annette Burke Lyttle, CG®
May 2026: Handwritten Text Recognition: Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence to Transcribe and Search‘
Handwritten text recognition software can turn manuscripts into searchable transcriptions. Learn how to use these tools and what they can (and cannot) do for you. The presentation includes a demonstration of Transkribus. These tools are especially useful when working with documents in other languages such as Dutch, Danish, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Spanish, and many more.
June 2026: ‘The Hundreds of Delaware’
Maria Myer, Reference Archivist at the DPA, will explore Delaware Hundreds, a uniquely named feature found only in Delaware. Once used as election districts, Hundreds
Handout: No Handout
Recorded webinar:
October 2026: ‘Preserving Memories for Generations.‘
Speaker Trina Massel discusses the thrill of discovery: the long-lost photograph, the faded letter, the story finally pieced together. But what happens to those treasures after we find them? In Preserving Memories for Generations, veteran genealogist Trina Massel shifts the focus from finding our ancestors to protecting what we’ve found. Drawing on more than 30 years of research experience, Trina will explore practical ways to safeguard documents, photographs, and family stories so they can be passed down intact to the generations who follow. She’ll also introduce a solution she’s excited to share, one designed to help you keep your family’s history safe, organized, and accessible for years to come. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or have decades of research to protect, this session will leave you with fresh ideas and renewed purpose.
Updated 17 October 2026