Many people want to learn more about genealogy, but don’t have the financial resources to attend conferences or to pay for expensive online courses and webinars. Others (like me!) are short on time and need to combine their learning with other activities. Here are some great ways to learn genealogy that are FREE and can be combined with other activities.
Podcasts:
There are a variety of wonderful podcasts and radio talk shows available to increase your knowledge and skills. Here are my favorites:
1) Fieldstone Common: “a weekly internet radio show (podcast) for anyone who loves exploring the past. Host Marian Pierre-Louis will introduce you to authors and historians who bring history alive! Topics focus on history and genealogy in the Northeast United States. Authors, historians, curators, archivists, genealogists and other stewards of history are interviewed about their books or projects.” This is a must for anyone with colonial American roots!
2) The Forget-Me-Not Hour: Your Ancestors Want Their Stories to Be Told: “Catch Jane Wilcox, host of The Forget-Me-Not Hour: Your Ancestors Want Their Stories To Be Told talk radio show from Kingston, N.Y. Interviews with special local, regional and national genealogy guests, a little music, and lots of genealogy tips.”
3) Genealogy Gems: With a focus on technology, Lisa Louise Cooke provides plenty of tips to assist newbies and advanced genealogists alike. A free and premium version is available, which may be downloaded from iTunes or listened to online. The Premium version also provides users with access to several how-to videos and other content as well.
4) Genealogy Guys: Experts and authors George G. Morgan and Drew Smith advertise their podcast as the longest running, regularly produced podcast in the world! Listen in to hear the latest news in the genealogical world and to get tips and tricks from the Genealogy Guys!
Other FREE online learning opportunities:
FamilySearch Learning Center: A wonderful and often overlooked resource, FamilySearch has provided great instructional videos for those new to genealogy, or just new to research in a specific area or region. They’ve also added links to the RootsTech 2014 streamed sessions. Check back regularly for new content from people like Thomas W. Jones, who authored the must-have book, Mastering Genealogical Proof Standard. Brand new to genealogy? No problem – there are short videos for you as well!
Legacy Family Tree Webinars: Free to listen live and for a short time after broadcasting, these webinars provide excellent information on a variety of topics ranging from organization, technology, research methods and much, much more.
Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree Extension Series: If you’ve attended Jamboree, you’ll know SCGS is a master at education! Their live webinars are a wonderful supplement to Jamboree, and a great resource to those who are unable to attend live conferences. Free to listen live, and members have access to previously recorded sessions.