Click below to access the recordings and handouts from our recent online meetings. About one month after the presentation, videos will be moved from this page to the Members Only pages of this website. Handouts for repeating classes are also available in the Members Only pages of this website. The most recent video is at the top of the list. [Please be respectful of the copyrighted materials and do not download or share the videos.]
30 Jul 2025 Class Video – Census Tracking. Probably the fundamental way of using the US Federal Census is to track ancestors from one census year to the next. In that process we seek to uncover relationships and lost or heretofore unknown ancestors. This class shows a strategy on how to do that, using an actual family as an example. In addition, it also shows how to uncover hints on using resources outside of the census itself. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Jean Roberson. This video will be available for approximately one month in this area. It will appear on the Members pages of the website indefinitely along with the handout.
28 Jul 2025 Class Video – Bringing Your Ancestors to Life. Going Beyond the Facts. Using a case study approach, this presentation will explore how you can use traditional resources such as vital records, census records, land records, newspapers, and more to uncover the lives, experiences, and even personalities of our ancestors. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society volunteer Karen Fortin. This video will be available for approximately one month in this area. It will appear on the Members pages of the website indefinitely along with the handout.
24 Jul 2025 Class Video – Using Historical Literature. Historical literature, both fiction and non-fiction, can help us to better understand the world in which our ancestors lived and the events that shaped their lives. This presentation looks at how to use historical literature to flesh out the stories of our ancestors and provides examples to show what can be learned. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Karen Fortin. This video will be available for approximately one month in this area. It will appear on the Members pages of the website indefinitely along with the handout.
15 Jul 2025 Class Video – The Women of 1620. Eighteen women (along with 34 children) boarded the Mayflower in 1620. This is the heart-wrenching tale of the only women who survived to the first Thanksgiving. Overshadowed by the men you all know, this true-life drama shines light on the four strong women who endured hardships and tragedy to give birth to a new nation! We also delve into feeding the family, women’s rights, and daily work of the times. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Lori Coffey. This video will be available for approximately one month in this area. It will appear on the Members pages of the website indefinitely along with the handout.
11 Jul 2025 Class Video – Facebook for Genealogy. You may use Facebook every day sharing family photos and stories, but have you ever thought to use it for genealogy research? We will discuss how to find relatives and search tips, plus the hundreds of Facebook groups dedicated to family history! But before we explain all that, we give an overview and tour to learn how this ubiquitous program actually works, so you can control what you see and what others see about you. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Lori Coffey. This video will be available for approximately one month in this area. It will appear on the Members pages of the website indefinitely along with the handout.
30 Jun 2025 Class Video – Documenting Your Sources. An introduction on the content of proper source citations. Using modern genealogy programs to enter citations will also be covered (Roots Magic, and Family Tree Maker will be addressed). Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Jean Roberson. This video will be available for approximately one month in this area. It will appear on the Members pages of the website indefinitely along with the handout.
25 Jun 2025 Class Video – Organizing Your Family Reunion. Once you know you want a family reunion, start planning it soon and correctly. In this session, we walk you through the right time for the many details to consider. We cover specific tips and case studies from successful events like using social media and options for budgeting. After following the right steps, you can be confident your reunion will be the best ever! Handout includes a complete planning checklist. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Lori Coffey. This video will be available for approximately one month in this area. It will appear on the Members pages of the website indefinitely along with the handout.
18 Jun 2025 Class Video – Immigration and Passenger Lists. America is a country built on immigration. What did your ancestors endure to come here? Learn the history from the earliest European explorers through the golden age of immigration when a million foreigners a year arrived to become citizens. Learn what genealogical information the passenger lists provide and where they can be found. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Lori Coffey. This video will be available for approximately one month then it will be moved to the Members pages of the website. The handout for this class is permanently available on the Members pages of the website.
16 Jun 2025 Class Video – Passing the Baton. This class explores some legal and logical things we can do to help ensure that our genealogy research goes to good hands when we pass on. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Susan Styx. This video will be available for approximately one month then it will be moved to the Members pages of the website. The handout for this class is permanently available on the Members pages of the website.
9 Jun 2025 Class Video – Searching Library Catalogs for Genealogical Resources. Libraries are a great place for finding genealogy resources. This class will show you how to find libraries and archives that can help you in your search, how to get the most from catalog searches, and discover other helpful resources available through online catalogs. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Karen Fortin. This video will be available for approximately one month then it will be moved to the Members pages of the website. The handout for this class is permanently available on the Members pages of the website.
VIDEOS FOR NEW GENEALOGISTS
16 Jul 2023: Getting Started on Your Family Tree. This video leads you through a hands-on tutorial on getting started on your family tree. When you follow the link to the video, you will be offered additional links to handouts which you can download for a more beneficial experience.
VIDEOS FOR NEW GENEALOGISTS. The following videos are listed in order of complexity. As you become familiar with various genealogy research skills, choose from the listed topics to tailor your skills development.
A consolidated handout is available by clicking here: CONSOLIDATED HANDOUT.
The following three presentations are from the “Essentials Collection”. They cover topics aimed at researchers new to the study of their family’s genealogy and history:
Video 1: Getting Started in Genealogy
Video 2: Key Records in Genealogy
Video 3: Internet Genealogy
The following three presentations are from the “Skill Builder Collection.” They delve more deeply into some of the research topics introduced in the Essentials Track:
Video 4: Newspapers in Genealogy Research
Video 5: Military Records in Genealogy
Video 6: Documenting Your Sources
The following two presentations are from the “DNA in Genealogy Research Collection”:
Video 7: FUNdamentals of DNA
Video 8: The Whys of Y-DNA
8 Nov 2024: DNA basics: The following videos are aimed at introducing the essential concepts of DNA in genealogy research. There is a consolidated handout for the videos in the member pages of the website.
VIDEO: DNA Basic Series Overview
VIDEO: DNA Basics I – Types of Tests and Ethnicity
VIDEO: DNA Basics II – Centimorgans and Shared Matches
VIDEO: DNA Basics III – Ancestry DNA
VIDEO: DNA Basics IV – X, Y, MtDNA
21 Sep 2024 Monthly Program: Unique Challenges of African American Genealogy. Genealogy is the same the world around, yet there are some unique challenges when researching African American family history. For example, specific strategies are required to identify and work with records before 1860 and locating identifiable names among government records can raise the difficulty level. Even though it can be challenging, it can also be rewarding. Especially if you plan to volunteer for community projects like our Clearwater Colored Cemeteries program. We’ll provide research strategies to take you around the obstacles to help you find the records you seek. Presented by Taneya Y. Koonce. There is no handout for this presentation.
PGS HISTORY VIDEOS:
Five program meetings during 2022 were dedicated to celebrating the 50th anniversary of PGS. The videos collected here are recordings of each of those five meetings They will be available on the public as well as member pages of our website for the foreseeable future. Use these videos to gain an appreciation of the breadth and depth of the Society’s activities over the past fifty years. (You can purchase a 50th Year Commemoration book by clicking on the “Publications Tab” at the top of the website homepage.)
There are no handouts associated with these videos.
15 January 2022 – VIDEO – FIRST DECADE: Debbie Schuler, PGS President shares the history of the start of the Pinellas Genealogy Society for our 50th Anniversary First Decade Event. This is also the first PGS hybrid meeting held both in-person in the Largo Library and online via Zoom.
19 March 2022 – VIDEO – SECOND DECADE: Maridell Hahn, PGS Seminar Director shares the history of the second decade of the Pinellas Genealogy Society for our 50th Anniversary Second Decade Event. This is also the first PGS hybrid meeting with both in-person and virtual speakers.
18 Jun 2022 – VIDEO – THIRD DECADE: Damon Hostetler, PGS Anniversary Committee member shares the history of the third decade of the Pinellas Genealogy Society for our 50th Anniversary Third Decade Event.
2 Dec 2022 – VIDEO – FOURTH DECADE: Damon Hostetler, PGS Anniversary Committee member shares the history of the fourth decade of the Pinellas Genealogy Society for our 50th Anniversary Fourth Decade Event.
17 Dec 2022 – VIDEO – FIFTH DECADE: Karen Fortin, PGS Anniversary Committee member shares the history of the fifth decade of the Pinellas Genealogy Society for our 50th Anniversary Fifth Decade Event.
Follow this link to join the Society: JOIN HERE