Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh

In this exclusive interview, GRIP faculty Cari Taplin, CG, Cyndi Ingle, and Paula Stuart-Warren, CG, FMGS, FUGA provide an inside look at their new intermediate course, The Spirit of the Inland Seas: Research in the Great Lakes Region. Watch as they discuss course highlights, their family connections to the region, and the unique opportunities and challenges of a fluid U.S.-Canadian border. We hope you can join us in June to learn more about the history, geography, methodology, and record sets needed to research successfully in the area. Visit https://www.gripitt.org/courses/great-lakes-region-research/ for the complete course description.

ONLY ONE WEEK UNTIL REGISTRATION OPENS! Are you ready for 2/17? With our talented faculty and high-interest, high-engagement courses, registration can be extremely competitive. We encourage you to prepare your course selection(s) and any responses in advance. For a complete course list and registration instructions, visit our website at https://www.gripitt.org/.

Need a solid foundation for your Irish research? Looking to identify and link your Irish families? Whether you are just beginning or have been researching for some time, Ireland and Northern Ireland Genealogical Research (formerly Part I) with David E. Rencher, AG, CG, FUGA, FIGRS and instructor Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA help you undertand and utilize various Irish records from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Online resources as well as all the major Irish record repositories will be covered in this in-depth look at available source materials. Visit https://www.gripitt.org/courses/irish-genealogy-research/ for complete details.

As we celebrate and honor African American heritage this month, GRIP encourages you to discover more through "Essential Tools and Strategies for African American Research", the upcoming July course presented by Deborah A. Abbott, PhD with instructors LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, Sharon Batiste Gillins, Shamele Jordon, Tim Pinnick, and Ari Wilkins. The course will teach the importance of mastering the tools, techniques, and strategies needed to research difficult genealogical questions. Using case studies and examples, students will learn how to identify, access, and analyze a variety of record sources. For complete details, visit https://www.gripitt.org/courses/african-american-research/.

Are you ready? Registration opens in 2 weeks! On Wednesday, February 17th, online registration will open at 12:00 p.m. (EST) for June courses and 2:00 p.m. (EST) for July courses. We encourage you to take a few minutes to review the helpful registration tips and instructions on our website at https://www.gripitt.org/registration/.

Have ancestors who lived in or passed through Pennsylvania? Not familiar with the idiosyncrasies of Pennsylvania records? Then you'll want to register for Walking in Penn’s Woods: Pennsylvania Research, an intermediate course with Amy E. K. Arner and instructors Dr. Michael D. Lacopo, Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA, & Kimberly Powell. Students will explore the wealth of resources available while gaining valuable experience through hands-on exercises and optional assignments. Visit https://www.gripitt.org/courses/pennsylvania-research/ for complete details.

ANNOUNCING: GRIP 2021 courses in two different weeks next summer.

Have you found the lectures by the Census Bureau, History Dept.? There is one on the history of the census from 1790 to present that was done today and will be posted as a recording at https://www.census.gov/data/academy/webinars.html

Memories of the FGS 2016 conference. The final FGS conference would have been this week.

LaBrenda Garrett-Nelson, JD, LLM, CG, CGL, (BCG's President) will be presenting a Free lecture via Zoom on Monday, July 20 at 7:00 PM (Eastern) on "USING PROBATE RECORDS TO RESEARCH ENSLAVED ANCESTORS" Part of the free lecture series courtesy of GRIP, this lecture's sponsor is the North Hills Genealogists (of Pittsburgh). Sign up at https://northhillsgenealogists.org/ where there is a free download of her handout for the presentation.

Paula Stuart-Warren talks about her course at GRIP "Digging Deeper: Tools, Records, and Skills."

CeCe Moore, former instructor for the Advanced DNA course at GRIP, is featured in a new ABC program called "The Genetic Detective." It starts tonight (Tuesday, May 26) on ABC at 10 p.m. CeCe retired from teaching so that she could spend the time to bring closure to the families of these cold case victims. And now she has a TV show to spread the Genetic Genealogy message!

CeCe Moore has taught Advanced DNA courses at GRIP but she now spends her time doing this!

Have you seen the brand-new course, "Following Ancestors in Time and Place" coordinated by Cari Taplin, CG? Offered the week of July 6 through live Zoom meetings, this is a chance to learn from Cari, Dave Mc Donald, Paula Stuart-Warren,Rich Venezia, and Cyndi Ingle in an unique format. Seats are open! The schedule of the 18 sessions is at https://www.gripitt.org/courses/following-your-ancestors/

NEW GRIP SCHEDULE for virtual courses including a new course and two popular courses that will be repeated.

How are you doing? Feeling stress? Try these relaxation techniques from the NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com//coronavirus-guided-meditation-nat

GRIP has been getting inquiries about our plans for our June and July weeks regarding the current world situation. Realizing that GRIP events are 3 to 4 months away and that only speculation exists for our trajectory of the future, we will keep positive and keep planning to hold GRIP. We will reassess in about two months at which time there should be real data upon which to make an informed decision. We do not want to speculate at the current time what will happen in 4 month...s while the picture is currently changing daily. We hope that you will hang in there with us as we all wait to see what the world looks like at that point. Our hope to provide our attendees with the usual joyful experience of genealogical learning and our instructors with an income source will certainly be a welcome relief to the current stress that each and everyone one of us is experiencing. Being in the genealogy bubble allows that escape from everyday lives that so many of you have experienced with us in the past. Summer camp for genealogists is a fun way to spend a few days with old and new friends who come together over common purposes and we will need each other more than ever this year. Let us all think positive thoughts that the dream of normalcy will become a reality this summer. We understand how every turn of the news cycles can induce stress over which we have very little control. Experts advise us do things we can control: live in the moment, take deep breaths, enjoy our family and simple home pleasures (and some genealogy time!) and tell those close to us that we love them. In a previous major national crisis, our genealogical community came together closer and stronger and, most importantly, we were no longer afraid to say how much we appreciated seeing each other during this common experience. May we say that we sincerely appreciate you, personally, and wish you well.

Breaking news for those doing research at the FHL in SLC.

There are still seats available in the GRIP course, "Irish Genealogical Research", coordinated by David E. Rencher (week of June 21). Read more at https://www.gripitt.org/courses/irish-genealogical-research/