Instructor: Terry Sunderlin

Recommended Minimum Experience Level: Advanced Beginner

Class Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 16

Restrictions: Open to PPGS members only. For membership information, see the Join PPGS tab in the menu to the left at http://ppgs.org.

Reservations: Required, e-mail instructor at sunderlint@hotmail.com

 

This presentation primarily is centered on the Oregon Trail & the California Trail.  A brief mention of the Mormon (Utah) Trail & the Bozeman Trail is discussed.  The presentation covers the different states of Oregon: Oregon Country, The Oregon Territory, and the State of Oregon.  It mentions some of the reasons early pioneers headed westward.  The first use of the trail and how the trails got started will be mentioned.  It discusses the Organic Laws of Oregon, the Donation Land Act of 1850, and homestead lands that were open for settlement in Oregon after 1854.  Trail numbers will be discussed along with an estimate of the total number of emigrants that used the trails.  Dangers of the trail are mentioned with diseases & death discussed.  Indian attacks will be mentioned and an estimation of the total number of deaths (all causes) will be pointed out.  The Mormon Trail, California Trail, and Bozeman Trail will be discussed.  Wagons will be discussed, and whether to use horses, mules or oxen to pull your wagon.  Hand carts will be mentioned as to their use and versatility.  Pioneer supplies will be mentioned, the typical cargo of a wagon will be covered, as well as the typical day on the trail.  A few personal trail dairies are looked at as well as some pictures of some early pioneers.  Finally, a discussion on the decline of the trail will be mentioned.  The presentation concludes with a discussion of one early Mormon Trail user and his efforts to keep the memory of the trail alive.

Instructor: Nancy Niles Wehner, CG

Recommended Minimum Experience Level: Advanced Beginner

Class Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 16

Restrictions: Open to PPGS members only. For membership information, see the Join PPGS tab in the menu to the left at http://ppgs.org.

Reservations: Required, e-mail instructor at ngwehner@gmail.com

 

Vital records (birth, marriage, death) provide important information on the connections and major events of our ancestors lives. But, vital records go far beyond the basic certificates that we often consider. This class will be a combined lecture and workshop, with hands-on exercises in the use of vital records. This class will only be covering civil vital records - use of church records, newspapers, etc. will be covered in other classes. Included will be:

Instructor: Nancy Niles Wehner, CG

Recommended Minimum Experience Level: Advanced Beginner

Class Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 16

Restrictions: Open to PPGS members only. For membership information, see the Join PPGS tab in the menu to the left at http://ppgs.org.

Reservations: Required, e-mail instructor at ngwehner@gmail.com

 

Standards help us to do our best work. The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) provides a guideline for establishing a genealogical conclusion with reasonable certainty. The class will include an exercise in determining if an example conclusion meets the GPS. Included will be:

Instructor: Nancy Niles Wehner, CG

Recommended Minimum Experience Level: Advanced Beginner

Class Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 16

Restrictions:Open to PPGS members only. For membership information, see the Join PPGS tab in the menu to the left at http://ppgs.org.

Reservations: Required, e-mail instructor at ngwehner@gmail.com

 

Source citations are a vital element in allowing us and our readers to 1) relocate a source, if needed and 2) evaluate the quality and likely reliability of our information. Few genealogists start out understanding, let alone writing, appropriate source citations to support their research, and in the long-term most seriously regret this failure. This class will be a combined lecture and workshop on how to write source citations. Included will be:

Instructor: Terry Sunderlin

Recommended Minimum Experience Level: Advanced Beginner

Class Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 16

Restrictions: Open to PPGS members only. For membership information, see the Join PPGS tab in the menu to the left at http://ppgs.org.

 

This presentation is about ‘Galvanized Yankees,’ southern prisoners of war who ‘swallowed the dog’ and took the oath of allegiance to the union.  The presentation covers what is meant by the term ‘Galvanized Yankees’ and the origins of the term.  It covers how many Galvanized Yankees served during the Civil War, when & where they served.  Some mention will be made concerning ‘Galvanized Confederates,’ those Union Soldiers who took an oath to the Confederacy.  The presentation covers the prisoner of war camps where these Galvanized Yankees were recruited from as well as which years they were recruited.  The presentation covers the reasons that prison recruitment was relooked and the proponents and opponents of the topic.  It covers the reasons why prisoners did not take the oath as well as the many reasons why southerners took the oath.  The presentation covers “The Bloody Year on the Plains!” pertaining to when & where these Galvanized Yankees fought Indians on the plains.  We will look at one company of Galvanized Yankees and see how often they moved and were on the march throughout their time of service.  The presentation addresses each Regiments Service and looks at some facts pertaining to the Galvanized Yankees.  We will address some Galvanized Yankee accomplishments as well as take a look at some friends of the Galvanized Yankees.  The presentation covers some famous former Galvanized Yankees and then discusses doing research on Galvanized Yankees.  The presentation concludes with a look at some of the records that are available through the National Records and Archives Administration (NARA).

Instructor: Nancy Niles Wehner, CG

Recommended Minimum Experience Level: Advanced Beginner

Class Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 16

Restrictions: Open to PPGS members only. For membership information, see the Join PPGS tab in the menu to the left at http://ppgs.org.

Reservations: Required, e-mail instructor at ngwehner@gmail.com

 

Unless you're Native American, your ancestors came here from somewhere else, a process called immigration. Once here, they had the option to go through the process of naturalization in order become a citizen. This class will be a combined lecture and workshop on immigration and naturalization records. Included will be:

Instructor: Nancy Niles Wehner, CG
Recommended Minimum Experience Level: Beginner
Class Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 60

Restrictions: None. Open to the public.
Reservations: Required; call 719-531-6333 ext. 2253 or to register online go to https://ppld.librarymarket.com/introduction-genealogy-finding-your-family

Additional: Bring snacks and/or a lunch, as we will not be taking a break long enough for you to go out and eat.

 

Exploration of the methods and records used in researching your family history. Includes discussions of:

Instructor: Nancy Niles Wehner, CG
Recommended Minimum Experience Level: Beginner
Class Size: Minimum 5, Maximum 60

Restrictions: None. Open to the public.
Reservations: Required; call 719-531-6333 ext. 2253 or to register online go to https://ppld.librarymarket.com/introduction-genealogy-finding-your-family-1

Additional: Bring snacks and/or a lunch, as we will not be taking a break long enough for you to go out and eat.

 

Exploration of the methods and records used in researching your family history. Includes discussions of: