Lectures
Maria loves to teach from beginning to advanced genealogists on various topics. Maria is passionate about genealogy and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others. She is a patient and enthusiastic teacher who is able to tailor her instruction to the needs of her students. Here is a sampling of her lectures. If you don't see what you are looking for, contact Maria for a custom lecture.
Lectures for Beginning Genealogists
An Introduction to FamilySearch, Ancestry, and My Heritage
Tailored to beginning genealogists, this presentation will help learners to explore the world of genealogy through three major websites. Discover the treasure trove of resources available on each of the sites. We will walk through the basics of navigating the websites, including their unique features. Learn how each site can help you to manage and grow your family tree.
Excel for Genealogists
​Unlock the power of Excel in your genealogy research. This beginner-friendly presentation will help family historians learn the value of spreadsheets for their research. You will learn how to create research logs, organize DNA matches, and create timelines to organize your genealogical data efficiently. Discover tips and tricks that will streamline your process. Gain the skills and confidence you need to add Microsoft Excel to your toolbox.
Lectures for Intermediate and Advanced Genealogists
Using AI to Help You Meet the GPS
There are many new Artificial Intelligence tools available to genealogists. Learn how to utilize these tools for each of the five points of the Genealogical Proof Standard: planning and executing reasonably exhaustive research, writing complete and accurate source citations, analyzing and correlating evidence, resolving conflicts, and producing a written conclusion.
Is This the Right Gal? - Wringing Every Bit of Evidence from a Record (Analyzing Records)
​Discover how to become a skilled genealogist by thoroughly analyzing records to uncover hidden gems of evidence. Learn techniques to extract every ounce of information from records, decipher clues, and follow leads to unlock new discoveries about your ancestors. After this presentation, you will be equipped with tools to confidently investigate records and unveil the stories of your family's past.
Analyzing Journal Articles – A Path to Organizing Proof Arguments
Published articles contain many examples of excellent writing and techniques for presenting material. From the methodology of separating same-named men to presenting census data, analyzing articles will help you to communicate your findings to any audience. Learn how to use journal articles as a model for writing your own proof arguments.
Evaluating Your Work Using the Genealogical Proof Standard
We will explore the principles of the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS), a rigorous methodology that ensures reliable and well-documented family history research. Learn how to apply the GPS to your research processes, including research, citations, analysis, resolving conflicts, and writing conclusions. Following the GPS will lead to thoroughly researched and trustworthy family trees. This lecture will help you to systematically improve your research and writing.
Records of the Southwest: Following the Migration of a Mexican-American Family from 1850-1920
Trace the journey of a Mexican-American family through the changing landscape of the U.S. Southwest. In this presentation, we’ll follow one family from 1850–1920 to explore the rich records of the region. Along the way, you’ll see how to work with Mexican civil and church records, U.S. federal and territorial censuses, land grants, border-crossing and naturalization records, as well as regional newspapers and local histories.
We’ll discuss common research challenges—including shifting borders, name variations, and bilingual records—and walk through practical strategies for overcoming them. Whether you have deep roots in the Southwest or are just beginning to explore Mexican-American research, you’ll come away with an understanding of the record types, search techniques, and historical context that will help you on your journey.
Understanding and Using the 1790-1840 Census Records
Learn about the power of the earliest U.S. federal censuses for your family history. In this presentation, we’ll explore the 1790–1840 census records and how to get the most from documents that list only heads of household and tally marks. You’ll learn about the history of the census, what each census year can (and can’t) tell you, how the categories and instructions changed over time, and how to interpret those columns of numbers to reconstruct family structure.
We’ll walk through real examples that show how to track a family across multiple census years, correlate these records with other sources, and spot clues to migration, neighbors, and community networks. You’ll come away with practical strategies to turn early census entries into meaningful genealogical evidence.
Lectures about DNA
DNA for Beginners: Understanding Your Results and Navigating the Three Major Testing Sites
DNA testing can be a great way to discover new information about your ancestors. In this presentation, we will discuss the basics of DNA testing, including how it works and how it can help your genealogy. We will review tools provided by the three major DNA testing companies and see how they can help you to organize and understand your results. By the end of this presentation, you will have a better understanding of how DNA testing can be used to learn more about your family history.
The Other DNA: Strategies for Using Y, X, and mtDNA in Your Research
Most genealogy DNA tests focus on autosomal results—but clues are hiding in the other DNA types. This webinar will show you practical strategies for using Y-DNA, X-DNA, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to answer real research questions. We’ll cover what each type of DNA can (and can’t) tell you, how inheritance patterns work, and how to translate matches into concrete genealogical hypotheses.
Using DNA to Verify Your Tree
​DNA testing can be a powerful tool for proving relationships and filling in the gaps in your family tree. In this presentation, we will discuss how to use DNA to prove your pedigree. We will cover topics such as: connecting DNA and documentary research, tools for interpreting your results, and connecting with DNA matches. By the end of this presentation, you will have a better understanding of how to use DNA to prove your pedigree.