The Inquisition Hired My Ancestor
The Inquisition Hired My Ancestor: A Dark Origin Story of Latino Genealogy
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Before You Call it a Brick Wall
Every genealogist runs into a brick wall. Before deciding a problem is unsolvable, it is worth asking whether the research has truly been exhausted. We will explore unclear questions, geographic misunderstandings, skipped record groups, and untested assumptions, offering a practical framework for diagnosing and moving past research obstacles.
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Researching Catholic Church Records in Texas
This presentation will discuss the Catholic Church records for Texas that are available to the public via FamilySearch, Ancestry.com and certain Catholic archives or churches. An inventory of Catholic records available to the public will be presented in the handouts.
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Getting the Scoop on Digitized Historic Newspapers
This presentation will explore the history of American newspapers, the process of digitizing newspapers, and review some of the more popular digitized newspaper databases available.
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The Founding Families of Laredo, Revilla, Mier, Camargo, and Reynosa
This presentation explores the founding families of Laredo, Revilla, Mier, Camargo, and Reynosa—five communities established along the lower Rio Grande during the eighteenth-century colonization of Nuevo Santander. It examines the settlers who built these towns, the family connections that linked both sides of the river, and their roles in ranching, government, military service, and community life. Attendees will also learn about useful records, resources and books for tracing ancestors from these historic borderland families.
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Genealogy, Identity and Power in New Spain, Mexico, and the United States (1520–Present)
Genealogy—the study of family lineage and ancestry—has played an important role in the social, political, and cultural history of the Americas. This presentation will trace how the cultural and social uses of family history have changed in New Spain, Mexico, and the Hispanic U.S. from the 1500s to the present.
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Are You My Mother? Using DNA and Records to Identify Unknown Parents
This session demonstrates how to use DNA clustering, shared match analysis, and documentary research to identify unknown parents. Participants will learn a clear, step-by-step process for narrowing candidates, testing hypotheses, and building defensible conclusions in cases where traditional records alone fall short.
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Conquering the Impossible: The Grit of the Northeastern Spanish Colonial Pioneer
Explore the psychological blueprint of Northeastern settlers. From Portuguese-Spanish colonizers to encounters with nomadic tribes, discover how extreme isolation and climate forged a unique resilience. Understand why your ancestors thrived where others failed, and how their indomitable spirit remains the foundation of your family’s identity today.
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Tools for Autosomal DNA Project Success
Autosomal DNA project success requires good focus and tools. Powerful tools let you see how members match as a group, not just one by one. A well-focused project of DNA testers working together can do far more than a person working alone with their DNA results.
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Find Your Family in U.S. Catholic Church Records
Roman Catholic sacramental records often contain vital events, relationships, and overseas hometowns. They’re also confidential, so they may be tricky to access. Learn how to identify an ancestral parish and tips for accessing records. Learn about additional records that may shed insight on Catholic relatives' lives.
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Using AI to Translate and Manipulate Foreign Language Documents
Discover how AI tools can translate foreign languages and reveal your ancestors’ stories. Learn to interpret handwritten records, detect languages, and understand cultural nuances. This session shows how modern technology makes genealogy research faster, easier, and more accurate—helping you connect with your family history across languages and borders.
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San Jose del Parral baptismal records 1634 - 1691
The research team will review the beginnings of the Parral area, the location of the baptismal records in FamilySearch, the PANES website, the guidelines and structure of the spreadsheet used in gathering data and information, the information found within the records (tribes, caste system, slaves and slaveowners, and other items), GSHA and articles printed to date in the GSHA journal Nuestra Raices and hidden records in this microfilm).
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