Most classes will be held in-person at the Library and
simultaneously online via Zoom
on Saturdays at 10:30 AM to NOON (ET).
Others marked * will be in-person only or Zoom only.
The class fee is $10.00.
Click on the title of the class for more details and to register.
[Can’t attend? Register, then email us requesting a link to the recording – good for 4 weeks.]
Class schedule subject to change – check back here or call 802-871-5647 for confirmation.
February 1, 2025
Vermont Genealogy Library
Pinewood Plaza, 57 River Road, RT117
Building on the right when entering
Essex Junction, Vermont
You’ve watched the TV shows, and you have an interest in your family’s roots, so what’s next? Starting can be overwhelming. But whether you want to do a deep dive, or just get a feel for it by starting slowly, Lynn Johnson can show you how to start by looking for resources within the family, as well as “official” documents. She will cover how to assess each piece of information to make sure it fits, and what to do when a piece doesn’t. Using examples from her research, Lynn will outline common mistakes that can derail your progress, and how to avoid them.
Lynn Johnson became fascinated by the stories of her ancestors and how their lives fit into history. Lynn has taught elementary school and worked in a bookstore. She has volunteered for the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society (VT-FCGS) for many years, including serving as President for two years. She currently heads the volunteers who staff the library.
Class starts at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in-person at the Library and simultaneously via Zoom on Saturday
February 8, 2025
Vermont Genealogy Library
Pinewood Plaza, 57 River Road, RT117
Building on the right when entering
Essex Junction, Vermont
In the first part of this lecture Drew Bartley will go over how to find vetted genealogical information that has been published in books and journals. He will then show you how to analyze the material in online databases in order to determine if the database is displaying the original material. Drew will use several major commercial databases that are available at the Vermont Genealogy Library and many public libraries to demonstrate his process.
Scott Andrew Bartley is a professional genealogist with more than 40 years’ experience. He was a reference librarian and manuscripts curator for the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston. He’s currently the genealogist for the Early Vermont Settlers Project for them. He is also the editor of Vermont Genealogy and the manager for the Research Service at the Vermont Genealogy Library.
Class starts at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in-person at the Library and simultaneously via Zoom on Saturday
February 15, 2025
Vermont Genealogy Library
Pinewood Plaza, 57 River Road, RT117
Building on the right when entering
Essex Junction, Vermont
Are you ready to put a little more meat on the bare bones of your family tree? A little bit stuck? Do your family members roll their eyes when you start talking about genealogy? Go beyond the basics in your search for your family history. Marcie Crocker will introduce the use of research logs, timelines, maps, and more. She’ll also touch on why you might want to put some time into the history and the languages that might be found in the area, as well as why you might want to research other family members, associates and neighbors.
Marcie Crocker is an experienced genealogist. She has been a long-time volunteer at the Vermont Genealogy Library and has served as President of the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society (VT-FCGS). Marcie advises our library’s visitors on FindMyPast, FamilySearch and other databases.
Class starts at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in-person at the Library and simultaneously via Zoom on Saturday
March 8, 2025
Vermont Genealogy Library
At the age of 18, Richard Hill discovered that he was adopted. His search for his biological family was thwarted by sealed records, lies and cover-ups. Richard eventually succeeded, becoming the first adoptee to find his birth family using genetic genealogy and DNA testing. Richard has made it his personal mission to share what he has learned with other adoptees and genealogists.
He recounts his struggles to solve that mystery in Finding Family, a book which was a Global Ebook Awards gold medal winner, and this talk will describe that success. As reviewed online, his telling is a “fascinating quest, including the author’s landmark use of DNA testing, [taking] readers on an exhilarating roller-coaster ride, and concludes with a twist that rivals anything Hollywood has to offer.”
Richard Hill has done presentations for national and regional conferences, including RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS), the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree, and Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE in England, local genealogy groups, libraries, DAR meetings, etc.
Class starts at 10:30 a.m. (ET) via Zoom on Saturday
March 10, 2025
Vermont Genealogy Library
Pinewood Plaza, 57 River Road, RT117
Building on the right when entering
Essex Junction, Vermont
As part of the 2025 Burlington Irish Heritage Festival, the Vermont Genealogy Library is again hosting an in-person presentation by Ed McGuire entitled, “Researching Your Irish Ancestors.”
This talk will provide a brief history of Irish immigration to North America and then cover common problems facing Irish researchers. Ed will also discuss techniques for finding your ancestors’ parish and he’ll highlight the major record sets in Ireland. Some lesser-known sources and significant new collections will be added this year. A multipage handout listing key references and links to some helpful online resources will be provided.
It will not be recorded for later viewing.
Ed McGuire assists with Irish research at the library, speaks often on the topic, and holds a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. His great-grandparents came to Connecticut from the counties of Donegal, Limerick, and Kilkenny.
This free presentation starts at 7:00 p.m. (ET) in-person at the Library on Monday
March 15, 2025
Vermont Genealogy Library
Pinewood Plaza, 57 River Road, RT117
Building on the right when entering
Essex Junction, Vermont
We’ve had classes on our French-Canadian ancestors fighting for America on Lake Champlain in the American Revolution, and classes on our French-Canadian ancestors decades earlier when the Basin was French Canada. All that research has led to the realization that uncovering our family stories during the interwar period from 1760 to 1775, when uncertain times made their documentation even more challenging, is the key to unlocking our family histories. This class will look at the region during this period and how our folks may have been involved in life on the Lake.
Suzanne Blanchard is a former editor and attorney, community planner, and longtime board member and volunteer at the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society and Vermont Genealogy Library. Her research is currently focused on recovering the Lake Champlain Basin’s lost family histories.
Class starts at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in-person at the Library and simultaneously via Zoom on Saturday
March 22, 2025
Vermont Genealogy Library
Pinewood Plaza, 57 River Road, RT117
Building on the right when entering
Essex Junction, Vermont
Author of the award-winning novel The Roots That Clutch, Manchester’s Beth Ann Hooper will discuss her fascinating genealogical discoveries, including how she found her grandmother’s secret beau among 20th century American literati while in graduate school in the Netherlands. Her roman à clef spans decades and continents, during which her alter ego realizes that, sometimes, the truth we seek lies hidden within the very words that have shaped our world. as she unearths the buried secrets of her ancestors.
Beth Ann Hooper is an award-winning poet, writer and film producer. Her debut novel The Roots That Clutch was named the Distinguished Favorite in World Literature 2024 NYC Big Book Award, 2024 Winner Book Cover Design Non-Fiction, and Distinguished Favorite World Literature by the Independent Press Award.
Class starts at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in-person at the Library and simultaneously via Zoom on Saturday
April 12, 2025
Vermont Genealogy Library
Pinewood Plaza, 57 River Road, RT117
Building on the right when entering
Essex Junction, Vermont
Today, the most popular type of DNA test provides important clues that can help identify recent ancestors and solve cases of unknown parentage. However, it becomes exponentially more difficult to use when one’s research question lies five or six generations in the past. For those tracing ancestors who lived before the Civil War, Y-DNA tests are often a better option.
In this talk, Ed McGuire will explain how the two types of Y-DNA tests can accurately follow paternal lines back centuries, untangle the identities of multiple families with the same surname, and even pinpoint ancient migration routes. Examples will include cases during the Revolutionary War era, Puritan research, and the Spanish settlement of Mexico. He’ll also demonstrate how the latest advances allow us to identify connections to specific matches in the very recent past. A detailed reference handout and links to online resources will be provided.
Ed McGuire is a past president of the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society (VT-FCGS). He is a frequent speaker on genealogy research, DNA testing and Irish family history. His personal research interests include his New England, New York and Quebec roots as well as Irish, English, French and German ancestry.
Class starts at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in-person at the Library and simultaneously via Zoom on Saturday
May 3, 2025
Vermont Genealogy Library
Pinewood Plaza, 57 River Road, RT117
Building on the right when entering
Essex Junction, Vermont
Do you find ancestry charts to be BORING? Lynn Johnson did, so she was reluctant to get involved in genealogy. That is, until she started to learn the stories that went with the names and dates. Lynn will use examples from French-Canadian family lines to introduce you to an array of sources that can help you uncover their stories. While the examples will be about French-Canadians, the general principles can be applied to lines of inquiry for any country or ethnicity.
Lynn Johnson became fascinated by the stories of her ancestors and how their lives fit into history. Lynn has taught elementary school and worked in a bookstore. She has volunteered for the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society (VT-FCGS) for many years, including serving as President for two years. She currently heads the volunteers who staff the library.
Class starts at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in-person at the Library and simultaneously via Zoom on Saturday