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. Personal use only of the handouts is allowed.]
Mar 19 2025 Class Video – First German Families in America. In the 1600s, a ship full of families escaping religious persecution headed to the shores of the New World which began a great migration. If you think these are the Pilgrims, think again! These were Germans who fled to Pennsylvania on the Concord. A watershed moment in history that has been long forgotten, until now. We learn about the political unrest and religious persecution which drove these cousins of William Penn to help found his new colony. And watch as they grow their German town to be a beacon of light for the 7 million Germans who follow. 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.
Mar 16 2025 Lecture Series – Italian Family Research. Italian genealogy research is simple once you find your ancestor’s hometown and get familiar with the vital records. Learn where to look for that hometown, where to find the vital records, and how to pull key facts from them in this session. In addition, members have access to the useful handout listing all the websites and tips that you need to be successful when researching your Italian family history.
Click HERE for Handout.
This video will be available here until 16 Apr. After that, it will be available in the members only pages until 15 Jun.
Mar 16 2025 Lecture Series – Irish Emigration and Immigration. When looking for emigration (out-bound with Irish sources) and immigration (in-bound with U.S. sources), have you adequately covered all the bases for your Irish immigrants? Even if you have tried all you can find in U.S. and Canadian archives, there are still some Irish records you can explore. This session discusses both U. S. and Irish records that have been found to give us those important links to Ireland. Presented by David E. Rencher, Director of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and Chief Genealogical Officer for FamilySearch.
Click HERE for Handout.
This video will be available here until 16 Apr. After that, it will be available in the members only pages until 15 Jun.
Mar 12 2025 Class Video – Creating the Perfect Family History Book. After creating a dozen different family history books, I have learned what to do and what NOT to do! If you are investing your time and money to create a lasting legacy, why not do it right? Family tree reports, plus images, narrative, and local history all go into the PERFECT family history book that people will want to read. 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.
Feb 28 2025 Class Video – PowerPoint for Genealogy. If you have used PowerPoint for presentations, you know how easy it is to use! But did you know it’s also a valuable companion for genealogists? You will want to keep it open all the time after we show you the three biggest genealogy uses for this powerful app: clipping and storing research, manipulating photos, and turning family tree reports into beautiful books or videos! We’ll give you tips to take your PowerPoint skills to the next level whether you’re using your own computer or the library’s. 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.
Feb 19 2025 Class Video – King Philip’s War. While largely forgotten, King Philip’s War was a widespread conflict that had a significant and long-lasting impact on New England colonists and Native Americans. The class will look at causes leading up to this brutal war, analyze the course of the war, and outline the consequences that helped shape the future of the United States. 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.
Feb 17 2025 Class Video – Identifying Female Ancestors. Finding your female ancestors is a challenge when they are only identified as Mrs. John Smith! This session gives you tips and tricks for finding those elusive records with a case study showing each step as you get closer to identifying your female ancestor. 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.
Feb 12 2025 Class Video – WorldCat and ArchiveGrid. A treasure trove of genealogical material is available in books, manuscripts, and other print resources. However, much of this material is scattered in libraries and archives throughout the country. WorldCat and ArchiveGrid are online resources that allow you to search many of these repositories to identify and locate materials on the families and topics you are researching. Presented by Pinellas Genealogy Society Volunteer Karen Fortin.
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.
19 Nov 2022: 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 last 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