2017 INSTITUTE TRACKS & CLASSES

Track 1: Fundamental Methods and Strategies 
Coordinator, Shelley Murphy
​Faculty: Shelley Murphy, Judy Russell, Bernice Bennett, Angela Walton-Raji
     * Time and File Management - Murphy
     * Building a Time Line and Developing a Research Plan - Murphy
     * Analyzing Records and the Art of Asking Questions - Murphy
     * Record Group 105 & What You Should Know - Murphy
     * Slavery and the Law - Russell
     * When Worlds Collide - Evidence - Russell
     * Public Records and the Law - Russell
     * Without a Hint There is No Story - Bennett
     * To Your History: Digitized Primary Sources that Reveal an African American Agenda - Jones
     * Tracking Your Soldier in the OR (Official Record of the War of the Rebellion) - Jones
     * Finding the Indian in the Black Family - Walton-Raji
     * Beyond the Dawes Rolls - Eastern and Deep South Am. Indian Genealogy - Walton-Raji

Track 2: DNA & Genealogy 
Coordinator Bernice Alexander Bennett
Focus: DNA should be added to your genealogy toolkit and, the genetic test results can break down brick walls, help you find your ancestry and identify new relatives. Hence, the DNA and Genealogy Track will offer the researcher skills to understand the types of DNA test; tools and resources to analyze the results; and practical hands on experience and group discussions to overcome anxiety associated with understanding your DNA findings

Faculty: Shannon Christmas, Bernice Bennett, Nicka Sewel-Smith
* The Beginner’s Genetic Genealogy - Christmas
* The Genetic Network - Christmas
* DNA Standards and privacy/ethics - Russell
* DNA and Genealogy - Christmas
* Strategies for Using Autosomal DNA - Christmas
* Genetic Genealogy Planning - Christmas
* Emotional Side of DNA - Bennett
* GEDMatch, what to do with it and how? - Christmas
* Off-Site Solutions - Bennett
* I’ve Just Done my DNA, Now What? - Smith
* From Widows to Slavecestors, to DNA - Smith
* DNA and connecting the Dots - Bennett
Pre-requisite: Participants should have taken at least one autosomal DNA test prior to coming to MAAGI. Any of three tests are suggested: AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA. (There is no affiliation with any of the three testing companies)


Track 3: Intermediate Genealogy - Pre & Post Slavery Era Research

 Coordinator: Janis Minor Forté 

Focus: This track focuses on methodology and skill-building techniques to finding documents; exploring record systems, analyzing evidence and developing new research pathways to pre and post emancipation era family history.

Faculty: Juliana Szucs, Ancestry.com; Roberta Ridley, Allen County Public Library; Dr. Alfred Brothers Jr., Lt. Col Air Force Retired, Melissa Tennant, Allen County Public Library; Janis MInor Forté, Chicago AAGHSC, and MAAGI Track Coordinator
Classess: 
      * Search Strategies and Using Trees to Organize Information: Getting the Most out of Ancestry – Szucs
     * Exploring Collections Beneficial to African American Research:  Hidden Treasures at Ancestry – Szucs
     * Exploring US Probate Records on Ancestry:  Slaves identified by name, age, grouping, bill of sale estate settlement, in court records, research            tips, -Szucs
     * Discovering Unfamiliar African American Resources at Allen County Library. What's New, What's      
        Different and How to Find It - Tennant
     * African American Military Records: Search, Find, Decipher, Understand, Incorporate – Brothers
     * Founding of a Nation: The Revolutionary War & Post Revolutionary War Period Records – Brothers
     * Rebirth of a Nation: The Civil War and Post Civil War Period Records; U.S. Becomes a Superpower    
          - The Expeditionary Wars: World War I, and World War II Records   – Brothers
     * Case Study:  Discovering a Migration Past of Valuable Genealogical Information  - Ridley     
     * Researching the Digital Library on American Slavery:  Learn Search Techniques for six database website  – Forté
      * ...Massa Went to War, and Took His Slave With Him: Southern Confederate Pension Applications, Learn new research skills, discover pre and post               slave era personal and family information – Forté
     * Seven Proven Strategies to Identify the Slave Holder: Finding Missing Kin and Reconstructing Families.  Learn exploration, methodologies and             strategies in record system search -Forté
    *What’s My Brick Wall?  Focus:  A problem solving session. Participants present brick wall/road block in brief.  Work Group(s) analyze,                            strategize, brain storm, review, report -Forté
 
Track 4: Genealogy Writing From Planning to Publication 
Coordinator: Angela Walton-Raji
Focus: The goal is to present the various methods of writing the genealogy story. From blogging to mainstream publishing, to marketing participants will emerge with personal strategies and be able to leave with a sound outline of their writing and publishing goals. Past participants will be able to continue to share their strategy developed over the past year, and put their plan into action.

      * Organizing Notes to Write a Compelling Story - Henderson
     *  Publishing a Heritage Book- Forté
     *  Creating Narrative From Evidence - Henderson
     *  Elements of Memoir and Historical Narrative - Henderson
     *  Publishing a Genealogy E-Book - MacEntee
     *  From Blog to Book: Outlining Your Book From Your Blog -Walton-Raji
     *  Self-Publishing for Genealogists - MacEntee
     *  Collaboration for a Writing Project - Bennett
     *  Blogging the Research Story - Walton-Raji
     *  Developing your Book Proposal for Mainstream Press - Walton-Raji
     *  Self-Publishing the Family Narrative - Smith

                                                                       
                                    MAAGI - The Teaching Institute