Upcoming
Speaking Engagements:
Are you looking to have a LIVE VIRTUAL speaker? Please contact us to see if this option might help your society or club. Every talk comes with a handout for your membership, along with saving the costs of travel.
STAY TUNED for more events being added in 2026!
Date: Wednesday, 1 April 2026 (via Zoom)
Time: 7:00 pm (EDT)
Description: “First Steps in Irish Research.” Get started on your quest for Irish ancestors. This talk covers what is important to know for researching Irish ancestors, where to look in the US for that information and what important Irish records and resources are online.
Host: Prince George’s County Genealogical Society. Non members can receive a zoom link by requesting it by email to: president@pgcgs.org
This presentation was canceled due to weather and will be rescheduled later in the year.
Date: Monday, 23 February 2026 (via Zoom)
Time: 6:30-7:30 (ET)
Description: “Genealogy: the U.S. Census.” Learn how to use U.S. Census records to learn about your ancestors’ professions, immigration, and vital details. Census records can also be used as the backbone for research about our ancestor’s lives. Genealogist Margaret M. McMahon, Ph. D. will help you get started using online U.S. and other census records.
2025 Selected Presentations
Description: “Mining Morning Reports for Genealogical Gold.” This presentation is for advanced beginners and beyond. Discover how to trace US WWI and WWII service members through their time in service using the morning reports of their military organization(s). Learn what these records contain, when names are mentioned, and how an organization’s movements and events can help build your ancestor’s story.
Description: “Introduction to Genealogy.” Join genealogist Dr. Margaret M. McMahon for a practical session on methods, tools, and tips to begin tracing your family history. This talk is geared toward beginners and those interested in exploring AACPL’s online genealogical resources, including Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest, and Fold3, to access historical records, census data, and military documents.
Host: Anne Arundel County Public Library, Odenton Library. Register to receive a link to the Zoom meeting. Registration will open on September 15, 2025 @ 10:00am at https://www.aacpl.net/event/introduction-genealogy-199391.
Description: “Ancestors, AI and Prompt Engineering.” This lecture explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) supports genealogical research for all experience levels. Learn the fundamentals of using AI chat tools, how to build effective prompts, explore other helpful AI tools, and understand the limitations. Whether you are getting ready to begin using generative AI or want to expand your current use, gain practical strategies and ideas to enhance your research process and integrate AI more confidently into your genealogy toolkit.
Description: “Crash Course on Researching Ancestors in the US Military.” Learn strategies for researching the US military service of your ancestors using online databases, archives, repositories, and social networking. Discover how to overcome the challenge of burned personnel records using alternative sources. This presentation also includes information about how to use military archives in your research, and offers ideas about sharing your ancestors’ military stories with others.
Featured Presentations
“Crash Course on Researching Ancestors in the US Military.” Join Genealogist Margaret M. McMahon, Ph.D., to learn how to use online resources and strategies to research your ancestors’ US Military service. The class will also include information about how to use military archives in your research.
“Crash Course on Using Fold3.” The Fold3 database is a valuable genealogical and historical resource containing a vast collection of digitized U.S. military records from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Discover how to navigate Fold3 to access these extensive collections and learn effective strategies to locate records that are useful for your genealogical research.
“Genealogy: First Steps in Irish Research.” Embark on your journey to uncover your Irish heritage. This presentation provides essential guidance for tracing your Irish ancestry, including where to search for valuable information in the United States and an overview of key Irish records and online resources.
“Creating an Individualized Genealogical Educational Plan.” Whether your goal is to become a professional genealogist, to better understand an ancestor’s life or break down your own brick walls, your own educational plan can help you focus on what you want to learn. Having an individualized education plan clarifies your goals as well as providing accountability. Explore the types of resources that are available to use, and how to put together your own plan.
“Ancestors, AI and Prompt Engineering: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Genealogy.” The program is for people who have not already used AI tools but want to learn about them and how to start using them, AND for those who are already using the tools to share ideas about how to be more effective and expand their use. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already been used in the realm of genealogy, with major success in indexing records as well as colorizing and animating photographs. Learn from Dr. Margaret M. McMahon, a computer science, engineering, and cybersecurity professor, how AI products can assist you in your genealogical endeavors. Find out how to use AI in your research and writing, as well as its limitations.
STAY TUNED for more events in 2026!
