Tracing Your Roots: A One-Day Genealogy Journey

From Faded Photos to Family Facts

Ever wondered about the real stories behind those old family photos? Whether you are just starting out or hitting a "brick wall," this hands-on workshop—led by genealogist Laura Wayland-Smith Hatch—transforms you into a family history detective. Join us for an intensive day of discovery as we move beyond names and dates to uncover the struggles, triumphs, and legacies of those who came before you.

What You’ll Learn

Strategic Organization: Learn how to categorize what you know and conduct meaningful interviews with living relatives.

Digital Navigation: Master online genealogy databases without the overwhelm.

The Paper Trail: Learn to hunt down and decode census records, birth certificates, and military files.

Accuracy & Ethics: Best practices for documenting your findings so your tree stands the test of time.

DNA Decoded: How to use DNA results to confirm relationships and find cousins.

Workshop Logistics

Fuel Your Research: A full lunch is provided and included in your registration.

Interactive Learning: This is a "working" session—come prepared to dive into your own history!

Your Checklist: What to Bring

To get the most out of this session, please have the following ready:

Tech: A laptop and a USB drive for saving your discoveries.

Accounts: Access to your Ancestry (or equivalent) account.

Foundations: A starter tree (minimum 3 generations) to work from.

Curiosities: Family photos or documents you have questions about.

What is Included?

A Box Lunch

A Tour of the Mansion House

A full-day of working on your family history with Laura and your fellow attendees

Why Join Us?

Most genealogy research stops at a list of dates. We'll teach you the investigative skills to verify your "iffy" family legends and turn a dry family tree into a living history of the people who made you who you are.